"A Quest Of Friends"

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, The Dungeon, Nicolai Sanders' stronghold
_

When the shift changed, more guards were present to properly restrain their prisoners. The larger Saurians were shackled to the walls and floor of the main room, restraining their powerful limbs, necks, and in Randy's case, tail. In a corridor lined with cells, complete with smaller cages inside, the human adults and smaller Saurians were chained to the walls by their wrists and ankles. Only Hazen was spared the full restraints as they ran out of shackles. Instead, he has only one ankle chain, which barely allows him to have a seat on the stained and ramshackle bed that was placed in the cell. The guards assumed by his recent behavior that he was a broken soul and they offered a little more leash on him. Still, as if some cruel joke, he was placed in the same cell as April, whose disappointment in Hazen was palpable. Little Redcrest, fortunately, was allowed to wander her cell freely since she was too little to be considered even a remote threat by the guards.

In the hours since they were incarcerated, they had little recourse to live their lives as normally as possible. Even though guards came in to clean the cells, the pungent odor of bodily wastes still hung in the air, adding to the misery. Furthermore, the gruel that they were being fed wasn't in the least bit appetizing, but somehow they managed to choke it down. If their spirits weren't rock bottom after their capture, they were certainly there by now.

Hazen sat on the bed as best he could. April had her ear turned near the wall. On the other side was Ajax and Lady Natasha. Some of the mortar holding the bricks were so badly worn that small holes existed. Perfect for conspiring minds. In the distance, a familiar off-key basso profundo voice filled the air. "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Nobody knows my sorrow," Randy sang, in as loose a meaning as possible.

"Oh, shut up!" shouted Vox.

"Yeah," said another guard. "If you keep that up, we're going to get Grond to rip off each of your armor plates one by one and show them to you!" Hazen chuckled to himself. Certainly, someone was torturing another, but the tables had turned slightly. This caused Randy to stop singing, but only for a little while as he began humming the tune to himself.

A guard came into Hazen's cell, carrying two small bowls of gruel. He pushed them in between the bars and said, "Eat up. This will certainly be your last meal." April didn't pay the guard any mind; he always said that.

Hazen reached and grabbed the bowls. He walked over to April, holding hers up. "Time to eat," he said.

April shot him an icy glare before returning to the conversation. On the other side of the wall, Hazen heard Ajax say, "Go on and eat. We need our strength."

Reluctantly, April acquiesced. "Yes, sir," she replied. She had enough range of motion to feed herself and she took the bowl. Hazen grabbed his and sat down, doing the same. After quietly swallowing the paste that passed for food, he said, "April, let's talk."

April wiped away some of the gruel that dribbled off her chin. "There's nothing to talk about," she said as coldly as she did when they first met.

Hazen sighed. "You always accuse me," he said quietly. "Even when I'm honest, you accuse me."

April stopped mid-slurp and glanced at the male. He did have a point. "Forgive me," she said. "I guess I'm still upset."

"You should be," Hazen said. "I am, too. I didn't want to be so . . . receptive to the guards' hospitality. It just happened. Outside, we call this Stockholm syndrome, after a hostage situation in the Swedish city."

April's curiosity was piqued, given her interest with the Outside World. "What happened?" she asked.

"A bank was robbed and the robbers took the patrons and staff as hostages to guarantee their escape. The ordeal lasted a few days, the robbers were arrested and the hostages released. But the hostages expressed sympathy for the robbers, even defending them. The reason was because they became dependent on the robbers, who in turn treated them benevolently. It's this perceived kindness that triggered this effect." Hazen paused after he explained. "Let's face it, they could have killed and eaten us. They should have. The fact that they didn't and they didn't otherwise torture us . . ." Hazen hung his head, ashamed that he allowed himself to even get this far, given how much the island was in danger.

April swallowed her mouthful of gruel, contemplative. Outside the cell, Randy began singing again. "When we get out, it may be difficult to trust you again," April said.

"I understand," Hazen said, "That's why I'll help you with anything that you need. I don't want to lose my sanity any more than it already has. Nor do I want to lose you."

In the next cell, Redcrest had finished her meal and began playing drums with the empty bowls to keep herself occupied. She heard scratching in the ceiling and looked at a hole. Suddenly, a beak appeared, followed by a pair of eyes. She recognized them immediately. "Seventy-!" she said, before being shushed by the bird.

April heard the young saurian's voice and said in a hushed tone. "You may get your chance, Hazen," she said cryptically. Hazen raised an eyebrow.
_

TAG: 76, Bentfeather, Falokar, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76 and the captives he has found.

Postal Bird 76 made his way in the pitch black passages that were the ventilation system for the temple complex, groping his way through mats of cobwebs and nearly plummeting into unlit rooms below; his spirits becoming lower with each step, when he began to hear faint noises that was not the usual sounds he had been hearing. The sounds were singing, he surmised; in a voice that was all too familiar, for there was no mistaking the bass voice of Randy their easy-going Ankylosaur puller! But the poor boy was probably not in the easiest situation for the song he was singing.

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…”, Randy sang from his shackles against the cold stone wall of the dungeon. “Nobody knows but Mama…”, he winced! “Oof…!”

“I told you to shut up!…”, the Dromeosaur guard with an iron nose ring, who held another chunk of mortared stone, yelled. “You’ll have more trouble than you imagine if you don’t!…”

Randy became silent, looking at the dozen or more other hunks of stone on the floor at his flank; the hand-sized chunks only big enough to cause pain, not to penetrate his armored hide. After a moment he began to hum the tune, he doing it in the first place merely to annoy their captors; and by the quantity of stones around him, his little plan was working! He began to hum a little louder, nearly forming the words as he spied the beaked guard look his way and shake his head; and even though Vox was a scoundrel, the Ovaraptor fed him several times during the trip here. At another breath, Randy began to really belt out the song, closing his eyes in both mock emotion and in preparation for another projectile; but when it came, it was from a different direction altogether and it was soft and cushioned!

“Awk!…”, Postal Bird 76 squawked softly as he landed on Randy’s head, bouncing into the space between the dinosaur’s body and the wall.

Just then two of the guards looked Randy’s way, he coughing, pretending to clear his throat. “Um,… dust…”, Randy lied, and looked down on the tiny creature as the guards looked away. “Postal Bird 76!… What are you doing here?…”, Randy whispered.

“Shhh…!”, 76 hushed. “I’m here to tell you all that the battle has started… Where are the others?”

“Olu, Artemis and Polongo are here…”, Randy whispered. “The rest are in the cells across the way…”

“Thanks…”, Postal Bird 76 peered around Randy’s massive head and saw Artemis chained to the adjacent wall, Olu on the same wall a few yards down. He saw Polongo on the wall as he rounded Randy’s club tail behind him. As each spotted him, 76 waved and quickly made a shushing gesture; and all three silently nodded, going back to what they were doing: nothing at all. “I must find lady Natasha, she must plan your escape…”

“You need a diversion?”, whispered the Ankylosaur, and before 76 could protest, kicked a rock into the guard’s fire in the center of the room; sparks flying up and they trying to contain the burning wood that spilled out! “Now hurry…, scoot!”

Postal Bird 76 lost no time fluttering up to the air shaft, scrabbling on the sides until he reached the horizontal junction; then ducked back down to get his bearings, seeing the barred cell block door in the opposite wall from his upside down posture. He had to quickly pull himself back up as another of the guards turned his head his way, for he had nearly been spotted! That guard, short spear in hands, got up and walked over; getting close to Randy as he looked up at the hole.

“Bats?…”, Randy guessed, shrugging.

“Aw, shut up!”, the guard growled and went back to the fire.

76 quickly went down the shaft once more, this time having a good idea of where he was going; and hopped over the vent directly above the fire the guards were using, making a defiant face down it just for spite before going on. The next shaft was placed directly above the door that led to the guard dorms, which was unknown to him; and he paced the short distance to the next one, noticing the awful smell of waste, unwashed bodies and something more. He dropped down into the cell block and hopped to each cell to identify the occupants within. In the first, Redcrest was the first to greet him; and he shushed her as he noticed Seamus, Frak and Tebo were in there with her, chained to the walls with worn out and forlorn looks about them. All three raised their heads and smiled weakly as he shushed them and went to the next occupied cell. Even though April Manchester was chained to the wall as well, her bruised wrists showed her futile attempts to break the chains; and Hazen Baker had it a little better off, for only his left ankle was attached to a long chain that was stapled to the wall. April looked up from her determined vigil and stared expectantly while Hazen ran to him, but his chain was too short and he fell many feet from the bars; so he shushed them and went to find the rest. Officer Ajax and lady Natasha was equally chained to the wall in their cell, but their demeanor was calmer than the rest; but their smiles at his presence showed that they seemed to be expecting him!

“I assume by your presence that the battle of Culebra has started…”, lady Natasha said without preamble.

“Correct.”, 76 told her. “I am also here to inform you that it is prudent that you facilitate your escape from here, and both the air forces and ground forces will converge on this complex to get you out.”

“That is all well and good…”, Natasha said. “But these bindings are far too strong to break free.”

“We have been trying for days now.”, Ajax told him. “But these shackles must have been made for far stronger persons than us.”

“That’s too bad…”, 76 paced. “Then if you can not escape, then all hopes of a successful mission is lost!…”

“They are saving us for some kind of feast, I hear.”, Ajax said.

“We will be the meals of honor…!”, Natasha said.

“That’s not funny!…”, 76 snapped at her. “I don’t know what to do…”, he said after a thought.

“Go back and tell the others that escape is impossible.”, Natasha told him. “Tell them to go ahead as planned, and don’t worry about us.”

“Unacceptable!…”, 76 nearly shouted, uncaring if he was heard through the thick stone walls. “There must be SOME way to get you out!…”

“There is none…”, Ajax told him. “Now get out of here, before you are captured too!…”

“Or hopelessly lost!”, Postal Bird 76 told him. “Those vents are a maze!…”, he flapped off to the vent above the cell block hallway.

Of course everyone in the cell block was listening in on the conversation, and knew their fate was sealed; but there was one little one there that could not believe that there was nothing to be done. What would Mama do if she were her, she wondered; and suddenly something came to her, sneaky as well as clever! Redcrest giggled to herself. As soon as the nice birdie was gone back up the hole, little Redcrest got the bowl that beak-faced meanie gave her that once had that icky stuff she ate and brayed her loudest until she heard the bolts of the lock in the door begin to turn…



_

IC: Scratch with Falokar. Wisdom at the gym.

The next day, when Scratch was off duty from guarding the north gate; he decided to go to the gymnasium to work off the meal he just had, keeping in shape as his extra large form required. He had only seen Kestria a few times in passing since their stroll, and each time she was either with one of the other females - listening to their whispered gossip - or too busy to do anything more than say hi. He was oblivious of his pace through the corridors, deep in thought about the whole thing, especially what she had been saying at their last meeting; and the conclusion his somewhat slow mind was forming was impossible, for it was seeming to him that Kestria was beginning to have cold talons about their engagement! With this milling about his mind, Scratch lumbered into the former storage area turned into an exercise facility, ducking the entrance that was too short for his height; and looked around at the few other saurians there, which consisted exclusively of Kestria’s Dromeosaur kinfolk.

He went to an equipment rack and selected a staff, meaning to ask if one would spar with him; but one of the ones with a staff simply put his back on the rack and stormed out of the room, look of disdain on his face. There were two on mats across the room playing ‘Tooth And Claw’, but they were too busy to notice him; and several saw him and immediately scurried out as well, looks of fear on them. The rest were working with barbells, and some of the females there were busy with saurian gymnastics; so Scratch paced the area until he sat his large form on a bench. That’s when he looked around and saw the rude one, sitting near a pillar in a far corner out of sight meditating and in a saurian version of a Lotus position; so he waited for a break in his concentration before addressing him.

“Oh, hello Falokar.”, Scratch said slowly. “What you doing?…”, the Dromeosauroid explained.

“Yeah, I came here for a workout myself…”, he stood his staff upright. “But nobody here wants to spar with me…”, he hung his head. “I guess that, being so big; I beat all the stronger ones so far, and everyone seems afraid I’ll beat them again.”

“Say, you look different than last time…”, Scratch got a really good look at his molting form, white plumage showing through the bluish down; and bloody patches from recent plumage lost. “Molting?… Yeah, I remember those days!… I itched all over for weeks!”, then he got a thought. “Hey, you want to spar with me?”

As Falokar was thinking, Scratch continued. “Come on!… It’s only for exercise. I’ll go easy on you!…”, He saw him thinking, then Falokar got up and went to the equipment rack and chose a staff. “Yeah, doing stuff around here doesn’t give a person like me a decent workout!…”, he got into a relaxed defensive stance on the mats the ‘Tooth And Claw’ participants had just vacated.

After a few moments, where both got ready and then exchanged blows that were easily blocked by the other; Scratch lowered his guard in thought, and nearly missed Falokar’s next swing. He sighed. “I don’t know if you’re interested, but you’d never guess what Kestria was talking about yesterday…”, Falokar was silent and alert for Scratch’s next staff moves on the outside, and really wanted to know this, so he indicated he talk further. “She was going up and down about how all the other females were jealous of her. Even her own sister who thinks she’s better than her is too…”, he finally made an easily blocked attacking move.

“I really don’t get it.”, Scratch went on as their staffs met many times. “She kept on saying that there was a whole bunch of females a lot better than her, and mentioned quite a few; then she told me all their merits, and indicated that she was not worthy of me because she thinks she‘s too timid…”, his lack of concentration brought a painful crack on the head - painful to an ordinary dinosaur - but Scratch just shrugged it off and continued. “The truth is she’s more than worthy of me… But somehow I’m getting the feeling she is getting cold talons about all this…”, he stopped his defenses and backed up a pace. “I don’t know what’s going on… I mean, all I really wanted was a place in her clan, but…”, he shook his head forlornly.

Just then Falokar stopped, panting, and gave him his impression of the situation; omitting the fact that he had an interest in Kestria, and giving his brand of advice. He said that he should do what was best for everyone, not just him or her; and if she wasn’t feeling too great about the idea, he should honor her wishes. He suggested that maybe his physical strength was a liability as far as love was concerned, for some females like a gentile touch over physical prowess. He stressed that it wasn’t his place to tell him what to do, just that it was wise to follow his heart on the matter and do what was best.

“I learned the codes of Dinotopia when I was young. One says: Others first, self last.”, Scratch said as he took another defensive stance. “I know I should follow my heart, but my heart doesn‘t know what to do…”, he swung and Falokar ducked. “Maybe it just hasn’t told me yet!”, his next one hit home, sending Falokar sprawling, and Scratch easily lifted him to his feet.

“You know, Falokar. You may be a rude one…”, Scratch went to put his staff away. “But you are also wise…”, he smiled at him as he made his way to an adjacent wash room.

Kestria had been doing her duty of gathering laundry around the temple; making her way from one dorm to the other and back down to an area below that was set up for such a task, when she overheard a conversation as she was passing one of the gymnasiums. It was the voice of Scratch, so she stopped to listen; but when he heard Falokar’s voice, her eavesdropping stance turned serious! What were they doing talking to each other? She thought Falokar would listen and stay away from him, but their conversation indicated they were trying to get along. Amid the cracking of the staffs they were using, Scratch was telling him about their talk the other day; and she didn’t know that Scratch had gotten her point during their conversation, let alone him being concerned enough to talk about it! She listened for the longest time, and heard Falokar’s reply about it; and with the advice he was giving him, it seemed he was putting his own jealousy aside to help another - even though the one he was giving advice too was the target of his own jealousy! It was at this time that Kestria’s admiration for Falokar rose considerably, and she knew her friendship with him could actually grow to love.

“Spying, I see!”, commander Dirge came from around a corner, saw her there and said suddenly.

“Um!… No!…”, Kestria blurted, startled out of her wits!

“Who’s in there?…”, Dirge looked. “Ah!… Scratch and Falokar!”, he looked at her. “What did you hear?”

“Well, um…”, Kestria knew not to lie to her leader! “They were discussing me… I think they are trying to get along.”

“Oh,… Mores’ the pity…”, Dirge commented, then stared at her. “Don’t you have a duty to perform?…”, he pointed at the laundry at her feet.

“Yes, sir…“, Kestria gathered the laundry clumsily and scampered down the stone corridor…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

-Making Friends of Enemies-

The next day had gone conciderably well for Falokar, he'd gotten up early and washed his body trying to removes as much of the dried blood from himself as he could, and though he did get quite a bit, he still had several patches on him. he dawned his new Armor and took up his dagger and saber, then also picked up a glave as his contengancy weapon, then headed to his assigned post at the tower. The attack on Culebra had taken it's toll and sure enough signs of the attack had been seen already and the base had started to take in refugees, no doubt Nicholai Sanders and Dirge would be planning a counter attack.

Luckily the attack had not gone as far as their base of operations complex, so for now everyone was safe, Kestria included. At around four in the afternoon Falokar was relieved of his duty by a female Dromeasaur who looked him over as he left.

Not long after Falokar had bathed once again and stored away his armor, dawning only his gi pants and sash. From there he went to the Gym in hopes of doing some zen la work outs and meditation to clear his mind.

He was in the middle of meditating when a familar thudding was felt vibrating through the floor.... Falokar opened his eyes to find Scratch in front of him, the Large Afrovinator adressed him in a fairly civilized manner, and Falokar thought it best to do the same, he nodded to Scratch and got to his feet.

"Is there something I can help you with Scratch?"
The dromeasaurian adressed his concern for the fact that he had no sparring partner, and was desperatly wanting one...

Falokar thought the situation over for a minute, this would be his one true chance to have at Scratch without just cause, but then again he did say he'd try to get along with Scratch.

As if Scratch was hearing his thoughts, the Afrovinator reassured Falokar that he would take it easy.
Falokar smiled and reluctantly nodded, taking up a bo staff from the rack and going out to the center mat, he performed a warm up routine consisting of various staff spins and intricate moves then turned to Scratch and did what was unmistakably a bow and took a deffensive ready positon.

Scratch started the workout and soon the two were having at it, sure Falokar was holding back, but this was only practice.... and obviously Scratch was holding back as well because, Falokar hadn't been knocked over yet.

It was then that the strangest thing happened, Scratch seemed to be opening up to Falokar, and talking to him, he started by bringing up the one subject Falokar knew was bound to come up... Kestria, but this wasn't a joyful or bragging sounding tone, he sounded concerned... as if something was wrong.

Falokar listened intently while still practicing his deffenses, then Scratch turned to him for advise... Falokar stopped...

"Well Scratch in a case like that, it really isn't about you, or about Kestria, the fact that you're concerned for her shows your level of compassion, and the fact that she's concerned about the issue shows that she does feel for you, but feels that she isn't deserving of one such as yourself, in a case like this it's really best to do what's best for everyone, She is feeling un easy about the situation, perhaps you should give her some space to breath, and you are feeling concerned for her, let her know that no matter what you'll still be there to help her."

Scratch stopped and seemed to be mulling over what Falokar had told him. Falokar grinned, "In the mean time I suggest you focus, if this were a real fight, you should remember to never lose focus or concentration on your opponent!" he said hitting Scratch over the head, with a rather loud and hard crack of his bo staff, some how feeling he'd hit harder than he meant to... yet Scratch just shook it off.

Scratch then responded by telling that he knew of the laws of Dinotopia and did his best to follow them but even so, a situation like this still left him confused, and that he felt perhaps kestria really didn't like him, as she was offering other females to him.

Falokar sighed looking at Scratch with new found respect, "It isn't you Scratch, although that may be part of it... by way of comparison, you are an Afrovinator, and she is a Velociraptor, so to size you two up to each other, I can see as you would be intimidating to her, heck you're intimidating to me, and i'm one third Dienonychus," Falokar laughed, "Don't tell anyone about that, i'd never hear the end of it, but my point is, to some one of smaller stature, you do seem a bit, over bareing, and from what i can gather, you may not know your own strength, after all to another afrovinator you may just be cuddling, but to her you may be giving her a back breaking bear hug. However that is no reason to give up on love or mating, I'm sure there's someone out there for you, and who knows, maybe Kestria herself will come around and start seeing you for the better saurian you are. A wise man once told me this... "The Lotus flower that blooms late in the season is the most unique and rarest of all. In this case, that Lotus bloom, may very well be you Scratch. Perhaps it is time you listened to your heart, and not your mind, after all the mind is only logical, the heart is so much more."

Scratch nodded at this speach which revealed Falokar's unfathomable wisdom, he nodded, "I try too, but my heart isn't telling me what to do" Falokar nodded, "Well perhaps it just hasn't told you yet, but as is always the case, when listening to your heart, all else around you must be silent, for hearts tend to wisper" Falokar winked at Scratch and laughed, then ducked an attack from Scratch and blocked another one... he looked up only for a second... something made him feel like Kestria was nearby... he couldn't see her, but somehow he was almost certain she was near.... WHAM he was hit on the side and sent sprawling to the ground.... Scratch walked over chuckling and helped him up, "What was that about keeping your concentration Falokar?"
Falokar grinned, "Sorry, I was destracted, but only for a second."
Scratch nodded, 'You know falokar , for one so rude as yourself, you are very wise.."

Falokar looked at his feet sheepishly, "Oh..right, sorry about the way i was the other day, I...had been having a bad week so far, but i'm over it now, give me another shot, you'll find i'm much more easy to get along with than I originally let on."

He smiled and walked over to the rack and put up his bo staff..... a few more feathers fell off of his body revealing more of his white underfeathers.

"If you wanna talk or hang out again, let me know ok?" he walked off, heading back to the center of the camp to wash himself and preen himself agian, his armor, weapons and gi all safe inside his assigned room, locked away" Falokar grinned, it should only be a matter of time before he had his initiation into the clan, or so he hoped, trying to anticipate the unanticipatable was starting to drive him nuts

Tag: Everyone involved

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker, Redcrest, and company, The Dungeon, Sanders' Stronghold
_

Hazen's brief glimmer of hope after seeing 76 come in and heralding the cavalry diminished as it became more and more evident that they wouldn't likely make it here in time. Even Lady Natasha conceded that they would most likely die at the hands of their captors. He retreated back into the cell to relieve the tension on his ankle chain. At least he could make his last few moments on this mortal coil a little bit more comfortable

In the next cell, little Redcrest was busy hatching a plan. Unlike the grown-ups, she wasn't chained up. As they talked, she looked at the bars and one of the bowls that they used to feed them with the gruel. After putting her finger on some residue that was still left on the bowl, she thought she may have a solution.

She picked up the bowl and started banging it against the bars. She brayed loudly, easily drawing the attention of those within earshot. Seamus couldn't help but look down at the young one and whispered, "We just ate! How can you still be hungry?" Then, the one called Vox opened the door to their cell. She held up her bowl, wordlessly asking for more gruel.

Vox scoffed. "Hungry are we?" he said. "I suppose it won't hurt you; I guess it's like the condemned getting their last meal..." He took the bowl and, shortly afterwards, returned with a large scoop of gruel sitting in it. "Here," he said as he slid it in between the bars. Redcrest started to put it in her mouth as Vox left.

As soon as the door shut, Redcrest spit her mouthful out and emptied it in a pile, doing her best to hide it from view. She then brayed again, repeating the motion. Vox returned and saw the empty bowl. "My word, you're a hungry one! No matter, it'll fatten you up for the feast." Again, Vox filled up her bowl and again, Redcrest piled up the gruel in her hiding place.

This exercise went on three times more before Redcrest had enough. She threw the empty bowl outside the cell near a bench that sat by the door. She went to her now significant pile of gruel and took handfuls of it, smearing it over her body. Once Seamus saw what was happening, he got the idea. "Be careful, little one," he warned.

Once she was thoroughly covered in gruel, she took a breath and tried to slide through the bars. The rusty surface dug into her hide and she tried her best to keep quiet, but the gruel allowed her to slide further than she would have without it. For a moment, she thought she was stuck, but she gave one more effort and she popped out! Panting, she grinned at her cellmates, who also smiled back. She went to the bench and carefully stood it up on end to the silent encouragement of her friends. Once it was in position, she began to bawl her head off again.

Vox opened the cell door. "Don't make yourself sick!" he said. "We don't want to spoil your fla--" He looked at the cage and saw only two occupants. The Lambeosaur wasn't anywhere to be seen. Suddenly, a hard crack to his head caught him by surprise and he fell to the floor. Redcrest pushed the bench over, knocking the mean dinosaur down, and began to jump repeatedly on it, keeping him pinned and subdued. "Ahh!" cried the surprised saurian. "What are you doing?!" he demanded in between jumps. A leg bounced up and hit him in the head, stunning him and rendering him unconscious.

Once she noticed he wasn't making any noise, she got off and looked for the keyring. After removing it from the guard, she tried to undo the lock to the cage. "No," Frak said, "we don't have much time. Find someone who can use their hands." Redcrest nodded and went out the door. In the next cell over, she opened the door.

Hazen heard the door creak and looked at who was there. He had heard some sort of commotion, but he couldn't imagine what it was. When he saw the diminutive figure of Redcrest come across the threshold, he nearly cried out in praise, but held his tongue in case guards were coming. He still offered a, "How did you...?" Hazen saw the keyring. He held out his hands. "Throw them to me," he said. The young hadrosaur put her arm through the bars and tossed them his way. Hazen scrambled to get the keys and quickly cycled through them to unlock his ankle chain. Once he was free, he unlocked April. He knew that he would need more back-up than an incredibly resourceful Redcrest would offer.

Once she was free, she rubbed her wrists and ankles to soothe their bruises. Hazen immediately worked on the cage door. Soon, it was unlocked and he was free. He dropped the keyring and embraced his Partner. "You did a good job," he said quietly. He then noticed the greasy coating on her. "What are you covered in?" he asked.

"The yucky food," she explained, "so I could get out." Hazen smiled and tightened the hug.

In the meantime, April grabbed the keyring and started out the threshold. "We're not free yet." Hazen stood up and took Redcrest's hand. They returned to Redcrest's cell and April began to free the others.

Hazen and Redcrest kept watch for any guards. Vox quietly stirred from under the bench. Hazen looked down and said, "Naptime's not over." He gave the guard a hard kick to the head, knocking the guard out again. Once Seamus and Frak were free, April examined their former captor. She removed his sword and helped Hazen drag him into the cage and shut the door, locking their former guard inside. The tables were now beginning to turn.
_

TAG: Ajax, Bentfeather, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Kestria and Scratch. The breakup.

Later that evening Scratch found himself on guard duty at the western gate, small portal to the temple complex a mere door of no particular importance; yet vital to guard as enemies could easily sneak in from there, attacking and laying waste to everyone else inside. His companion for the night was not in sight at the moment, for Sweethorror the Allosaurus was patrolling the jungle beyond; and also hunting for a midnight snack for them all later. Even though guarding this gate was boring and lonely at times, he took the post gladly when he heard that his guarding cohort would be none other than Kestria; for the things he needed to say to her wore heavy on his mind, and those things were of a most private nature.

Earlier in the evening they arrived to dismiss the previous guards, then got busy reconnoitering the area for any hostiles whether they be enemies or of the more natural types of danger; and then both he and Kestria took their posts at either side of the portal while Sweethorror said good bye in her usual boisterous way and melted into the jungle. As a few hours wore on and the task of boredom took it’s toll, both began to pace around in silence as they looked at the drab stone and green foliage; and as soon as they converged back to the portal, some conversation came about.

“All clear?”, Kestria asked officially.

“Yes.”, Scratch said. “All clear.”

“How you doing?”, she asked.

“Good…”, but Scratch’s face showed thought.

“I saw you in the gym with Falokar.”, she told him.

“We were sparring.”, he smiled. “He was the only one who didn’t know how skilled I was!”

“That so…”, Kestria said. “Did you talk with him?”

“A little.”, Scratch said. “He said he got professional training.”, he bowed his head before looking at her again. “Kestria, I know our friendship was arranged. It was done so I could join your clan as a full member… I care about you, a lot more than you may think.”

“I care about you too.”, Kestria told him. “I want you to be a full member of my clan.”

“You see, the way I see it is I can be a full member of your clan if I mate with ANY of your females.”, Scratch told her. “It doesn’t have to be with you.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to?”, she asked.

“Well, every time we’re together, I sense fear in you.”, he said. “I think you might be afraid of me… After all, I’m stronger than nearly everyone here.”, he smirked awkwardly. “I don’t know my own strength sometimes. I may be hurting you and not know it… and I don’t want to hurt you!”, he held out his massive hand and let her hold it this time.

“So, what do you think we should do about it…?”, she looked at him with a new light.

“Well,… We could break off the engagement…”, then Scratch got nervous! “I mean, if you want to!… It’s not like I’m trying to get rid of you or nothing…!”

“Scratch, my friend… That took more courage to say what you said than what is found in any battle!”, Kestria laughingly nuzzled, then pulled away slightly. “You know, you saw the truth of the matter pretty well. When we’re together, you are so much bigger than me; and I’m instinctively afraid of anyone bigger than me, which is a cowardly trait I have.”, it was her turn to bow her head. “And yes, you are too strong for me. When you hold my hand, you nearly crush it. When we hug me, you squeeze the breath out of me…”, she looked into the darkening jungle. “When it would be time for us to mate, I’m afraid you might kill me in your passion…”, she then looked at him. “But you saw all this, didn‘t you?…”

“It was almost too late…”, Scratch admitted. “But it was both what you said before and what Falokar told me that made me make up my mind about this.”

“What did he say to you?”, Kestria asked.

“Well, I told him about how you were praising the other females.”, Scratch began. “And how you were playing yourself down with me. All that was bothering me. I mean, why would you do something like that if we are together unless something was wrong?…”, he shuffled. “Falokar basically told me to follow my heart. I want to do what’s best for all, but I can’t do that if I end up hurting you just for my own personal advancement… My heart told me that you didn’t feel comfortable with me, and it told me that it might be best if we were not engaged.”

“I see… So you really want to break it off?”, Kestria asked.

“I think it’s for the best…”, he shuffled some more. “I’m sorry…”

“Me too…”, Kestria finally realized. “For being a big, strong oaf like you are; you are kind, and sensitive to others…”, she nuzzled him, a nice long one!

“But what is your father going to say?”, Scratch asked when they disengaged.

“I’ll tell Pa the truth, that’s all…”, she said.

“Or I could get interested in your sister, and let everyone else figure it out…!”, Scratch didn’t get his joke, but she did! He joined in anyway and they chuckled at their post for many moments.

Just then Sweethorror erupted from the jungle and stormed into the area; then she roared enough to send the local flying creatures scattering. “HEY!… GUYS!…”, said she at the top of her massive lungs. “LOOK… WHAT… I… CAUGHT!…”, She retreated and returned a moment later dragging a juvenile Miasaurus carcass. “…NEVER… EVEN… SAW… ME… COMING!…”

“Seeing her coming wasn’t the problem…”, Scratch whispered, and Kestria chuckled. “Not with THAT voice…!”

“Let’s eat!”, Kestria said instead. “Before the commander catches us…”

Presently they all did so, and after that they continued their duty the whole night long. When the giant Allosaur was there, they spoke nothing of what they had been talking about; but when she went away for brief periods, their eyes told each other more than any words could ever do. Even though both knew the implications of what they decided, they both thought it a good thing to part as friends instead of being bitter about it.

Some time during the night, when their attentions were directed elsewhere; a feathery shadow silently flapped out of the entrance to the west gate, Postal Bird 76 being as quiet as he possibly could, and glad to be out of that serpent’s lair as he tried to make his bearings back to a safe place.

As with most shifts at guard duty, just like how all soldiers find the task; absolutely nothing amiss happened that they could tell the whole night long, and they gratefully accepted their relief as the dappled morning light trickled through the jungle canopy above…
_



IC: Redcrest, Hazen April, Ajax, lady Natasha, Frak, Seamus, Randy, Polongo and Olu. Breaking out of prison.

Tebo Lewis watched little Redcrest as she begged for another bowl of gruel, not really caring as for him all hope was lost. Let the hatchling eat her fill, for all he cared. The condemned should live it up as much as they wanted before the end anyway! His life was shot, he knew; for he failed in his first attempt on having a Partner, letting him get captured and the captor doing Fate-knows-what to him; and he wasn’t too sure he’d make a decent librarian when things got back to normal, a thing so remote at this point that it might as well be on the other side of the moon, he thought! He saw the only form of amusement was watching little Redcrest eat, for he always found the antics of children funny; but what the little dinosaur was doing was not eating it, for she seemed to be playing with her food, piling it in a heap on the floor beside her! He didn’t feel like talking, much less scold her for being so wasteful; so onward he watched, growing more interested despite himself at her antics. He admitted that the gruel the beaked guard Vox gave them wasn’t exactly a gourmet meal, but Redcrest seemed to enjoy it; but why was she emptying her bowl on the floor behind her? She then did the same thing, asking for more and then calling out once again; but when she began smearing it all over her body like that?

The purpose came clear when she slicked up two of the rusty bars and began to slide through; nearly getting stuck as the rough iron scratched up her young hide. He had a mind to tell her not to do it, as the guards would certainly catch her and put her into the shackles that now were around his own ankles and wrists; but his own depressed mood figured it wouldn’t matter anyway, and out into the cell block corridor she popped with a grunt, looking about for what, Tebo did not know. Bowl in hand, Redcrest went to the door; then she saw the wooden bench hidden from Tebo’s view and stood it up on end, placing it in a strategic position as she went to the leeward side of it. She threw her wooden bowl down the cell block corridor and brayed her loudest; and pretty soon the door to the block opened, Vox rushing in to see what was the matter. Before the Overaptor could react, Redcrest kicked the bench directly into him; knocking him down before he knew what hit him, and she immediately jumped onto the bench and began pouncing! She hopped up and down, like she was jumping on the bed; and Vox’s beaked cranium hit the stone cobbled floor repeatedly, knocking him even more senseless with every blow. Pretty soon she noticed he was out cold, and scrabbled about his belt to get his cell keys; and she kicked him in the head for good measure before rushing to the cells. The locks in them were too high up for her to reach, so she looked and found that Hazen her friend was the least tied up; and tossed the keys to him as he scrabbled for them in mid air.

Redcrest saw that the cell block door was open a crack and feared the other guards outside, and ran to slam the door shut as the lock clicked back into place; then ran to see Hazen was quickly unlocking everyone in that cell before unlocking the cell itself. Miss April immediately went to Vox and took his sword, and as the other cells and the forlorn prisoners inside; and soon everyone was free, but they were still trapped inside the cell block! Being the most experienced in the group, officer Ajax soon took strategic control; and they were all told what to do in order to form up a defensive rushing maneuver.

“Someone please take our host and give him first class accommodations…”, Ajax whispered to the rest after he tripped over Vox’s still form. Frak and April complied. “We still need to free the others.”

“But how?”, Natasha asked. “With the guards out there, we don’t stand a chance!”

“All we need to do is rush them.”, Ajax told her quietly, then smiled. “And I think we can use the help of our little heroine here too!”, Redcrest preened. “Honey, could you yell some more?…”, she nodded and began, but was hushed. “When I say, ok?…”, another nod.

Everyone got ready ad Ajax and Natasha got to either side of the door. The rest hid in the nearest two cells, doors ajar a crack; and Hazen held Redcrest back in one of the cells farther back, and with a nod Ajax nodded to her to do her thing! In a moment two of the three guards came to the door and unlocked it; then with lightning speed Ajax grabbed the first one inside, where the rest rushed out and began pummeling him. The guard that hung back slightly was rushed by lady Natasha, and she rammed him to the ground with her head while Ajax came out and began pummeling him as well; and by this time the rest were done with the first one, and Frak came to assist with the one out in the main room. The one with the nose ring tending the fire got up and rushed around the pillars to intercept the escaping prisoners, but by this time lady Natasha and Frak circled around from either side of the pillars to squash him between their twin eight inch thick craniums.

The first two subdued guards were stripped of their weapons and keys, then were shackled to the walls of two different cells; receiving knockout blows as they tried to struggle or wake up, and the rest finally made their way out of the cell block as the last guard was finally incapacitated and drawn inside for treatment similar to his toothy comrades moments later. Ajax surveyed the chamber they were now in, and immediately told Hazen and Tebo to free Randy, Olu and Artemis; he still eyeing the other three doors in the walls, wondering from which one would come more guards. As the group of friends began to converge near the fire in the center of the room, Ajax spotted the weapon rack near it; and immediately went there to choose the largest and sharpest broadsword there, and the rest began choosing weapons of their own choice. The choice was not too extensive, just a dozen or so swords of various manufacture, two crossbows with three quivers and many ragtag spears; but there was plenty there to arm each with more than one weapon, and each loaded up with all they could carry.

“Ok, step one was a success.”, Ajax said, sheathing his sword and choosing a lighter one while adding two small knives to his belt. “Now we must figure a way out of here.”

“There will be soldiers at every turn.”, lady Natasha said as she shouldered a crossbow and quiver while selecting a rapier. “Everyone should carry arms.”

“Even you, little one!”, Frak said as he crouched to give Redcrest a little dagger. “One so smart and brave deserves one too!… Did you tell your mama?…”, she nodded her crested head, indicating she did as she imitated a boxing stance.

“Boy, if I only had my tail free…!”, Randy said. “I could have lambasted all of ‘em!…”

“You’ll get your chance!”, Tebo said, choosing a sword of his own, plus an array of knives he stuffed in his belt. “I got something to do…”, his look turned serious, and he walked over and began to open one of the doors!

“Don’t do that!”, Seamus warned.

“Where do you think YOU’RE going?”, Ajax asked accusingly.

“I’m going to find sir Bentfeather.”, Tebo said flatly and closed the door behind him.

“He’s going to get himself killed…!”, lady Natasha told Ajax softly, then louder. “You get the rest out… I will go with him.”, and then she slipped out the door that Tebo went through…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - Falokar the new Look

The night had grown long and throughout the entire day Falokar's molting had only seemed to increase in speed, it was quite a stunning sight when Falokar had been walking to the mess hall trailing behind him thousands of feathers, that were literally just falling off of him.

It is therefore no wonder that when Falokar laid down to rest that night, he looked like a completly different saurian, his white feathers now covered his entire body, with a nice fresh plumage of read going along from the top of his head to the back of his neck, and yet... the only thing still the same about him was his blue long feathers on his head which now curved up only slightly giving the appearance of blue skull horns.

Falokar streatched out and yawned... then curled up and began cleaning his new feathers.... all the while wondering how Kestria was doing, he sighed, she was fine, he was almost certain of it, for the time being nothing could go wrong.

Strangly enough several hours past and Falokar still found himself awake... he began to wonder, what exactly it was that was keeping him up when the thought slowly krept into his mind.
His mother, the entire time he'd been on this island he'd been getting strange looks from others, and at times had managed to over hear some of the elders in the village saying. "He looks just like she did at that age..."

He couldn't help but feel they knew something, and his curiosity had grown just enough to make him want to find out. -Alright, tomorrow I'm going to ask around, someone here is bound to know something-

With that Falokar rolled over and was finally able to fall asleep.

Tag: Everyone involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Peter and Hydra, unexpected labor in the complex.

From the very moment that they had entered the temple complex, the multitude of guards thought that Peter Triceratops and Hydra Pentaceratops were simply more pullers in the convoy; that they were simply other prisoners, and almost went to the dungeon with the rest of them! It took all of Vox’s persuasion as well as the endorsement of Petronas, and a final word from commander Dirge for them to let these saurian counterparts go free; even though Dirge thought the whole situation a colossal joke! They were led to some paddocks and told to await their new tasks, Hydra’s claim as a cart puller and Peter’s claim to be an apprentice Archaeologist meaning little to these small monsters; monsters that the both of them were strangely getting used to.

As the days wore on, they were both assigned to the complex’s water collection facility; which was a cistern that was fed by an underground stream, and pumped to various parts of the complex by a system of water screws. They were apportioned to work pulling the giant wooden wheels that powered the system of pulleys and belts that drove these water screws, a task that Peter soon grew to loathe, and one that Hydra immediately began to dread as it reminded her of the mill where she received her disfigurements. However, they did not have to spend every waking hour at the wheel; and spent some hours getting the layout of the temple complex, walking about exploring while occasionally getting harassed by some of the soldiers. One day Peter met up with Petronas, who was studying the minor artifacts at the intersection of a corridor, where a table and many tomes were set up and the Stenoychosaur deep in study; and he almost broke an item as he was startled by Peter’s inadvertent nose horn!

“What the…?’, Petronas turned with a jerk. “Oh, it’s you… What are you doing horning in like that?…”

“Just curious…”, said Peter as he was pushed back. “Gee. I wish I could do stuff like that… You’d never guess where they stuck us!”

“Well, cataloguing all these things isn’t exactly challenging my talents, either!”, Petronas groused. “I should be in there helping mister S with the REAL artifacts, not down here counting trinkets!”

“Well, at least you’re doing something you’re trained for.”, retorted Peter. “All they got me and miss Hydra doing is pumping water!”

“And I hear they have poor Vox guarding Bentfeather’s buddies!”, Petronas chuckled. “They say that if they have a person guarding prisoners, they can’t be too bright!… He should fit right in there!”

“So what!…”, Peter said. “I think it’s all a crock myself.”, he turned to see if any of those sneaky sharp teeth was coming. “All I been getting is the short end ever since I met up with you!… Where is the riches you promised?…”

“Just relax, will you!”, Petronas told him. “Taking over Dinotopia isn’t going to happen over night… First that artifact has to be put to use, then whatever is going to happen has to happen, and then it will bring everyone to their knees!… That’s when we will see our wildest dreams come true, and no sooner… So have patience!”

“Well, if it doesn’t happen soon, I’m out of here!”, and Peter stormed down the hallway. The next level down and several corridors away he was stopped by a guard with a spear!

“Gotcha!…”, the puny one said, pointing.

Peter bellowed and huffed in his face. “AW, BUZZ OFF!!”, The guard scampered. “Rude little pipsqueaks…”, he grumbled as he made his way back to the water pumping facility…


_

IC: Bentfeather and Nicolai Sanders with the saurians in the immediate vicinity. The effects of the machine.

Sir Bentfeather sat forlornly on the wooden perch within the iron cage he was imprisoned in, watching his former Partner as he went about seemingly mundane tasks within his study chamber; and after many hours of the futility of trying to reason with this madman, decided to accept his fate as Nicolai Sanders worked. It had been many hours since he had activated the machinery within the Snake Chapel beyond the solid iron doors, and the ancient ship’s chronograph converted as a timer; which sat on the corner of his study table, chimed off the hours like tolling the chimes of doom.

Nicolai had been busy sorting books in two of the bookshelves that lined opposite walls of the room, and then got busy sorting and storing his notes in scroll racks beside these shelves before turning to his chair and the suit of human armor complete with an array of weapons including broadsword and battle axe and hand shield in a niche beside it. He then got a cloth and began to polish it lovingly, pate of the helmet done in gold in the shape of a stylized crown. He worked on the metal until helmet and shoulder greaves shone blindingly before stopping to regard the Microraptor in the cage.

“I will wear this armor on my final conquest of Dinotopia.”, he gloated. “It is said that this armor was once worn by king Othgar himself!… Of his aborted conquest, I will complete it in full!…”

“Oh please, spare me…!”, Bentfeather moaned. “I tire of your megalomaniacal gloating!…”

“You have no idea of the scope of my power, do you?…”, Nicolai Sanders paused as the chronograph chimed several times and stopped with a steely ping. He smiled evilly. “Ah!… And now you may see it for yourself!…”

Nicolai Sanders walked to the doors of the Snake Chapel and undid the latches, and as he pulled them open Bentfeather could hear the rapid thrumming coming from in there; and this was decibels louder than the sounds it had been making before he closed them the last time. Bentfeather could feel the vibrations to his bones, and the noise seemed to penetrate his skull; causing his scalp to itch, and making his carmine head hackles rise despite himself! At first Bentfeather could not hear Nicolai was talking, but the voice echoed in his brain; almost making him want to hear that voice, but then the sound registered and he came back from the slight fugue.

“Oh, don’t worry…”, Sanders was saying. “Those iron bars will partially dissipate the effects…”, he walked to the outer chamber doors and opened them. “But imagine what will happen to an unprotected saurian!…”

Nicolai Sanders looked both ways down the hallway until he spotted a pair of guards. “You two… Come here.”, both complied immediately, then took blank expressions as they stood in the doorway.

“Fight each other…”, Nicolai commanded, and both drew their swords woodenly. As both parried each other’s first attack, their swords clanged and sang through the air. The fight went on for many moments until their swords locked. The stronger of the two shoved the other to the ground, and went for the killing blow. “Stop fighting…”, Nicolai commanded just then, which was obeyed instantly. “Pick him up… Go back to your duties…”, both complied silently and instantly left.

“You see?…”, Nicolai sanders said to Bentfeather as he closed those doors. “Total obedience and control without question!”, he walked over and closed the doors to the Snake Chapel. “As soon as the machine is ready, that power will be beamed to the island and link with the Prime Sunstone… That in turn will link to all the other Sunstones in every settlement!…”

He walked close to Bentfeather’s cage. “I will be in control of EVERY saurian on Dinotopia!… I will then bid them to do battle with everyone who opposes me, and I will reign victorious!…”

Bentfeather shrank away from his former Partner, knowing full well that his claim could very well become true…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

The Ambush, The Confrontation, and The Truth.

It was early the next morning, the complex seemed quite and even some what peaceful, a pair of dromeasaurian guards patrolled the hallways near the dungeon.... a sudden arrow dropped the first one to the ground, the attack had been like a razor cut... fast and deep. The other shrieked in surprise at the sight of the prisoners, armed and escaping!

She screamed out getting the attention of several other dromeasaurs, who at once came running to her aid. The prisoners took the deffensive as they tried to deffend themselves against the dromeasaur guards. The dromeasaurs had nearly gotten the prisoners to surrender, when one was suddenly hit in the back of the head, dropping to the ground, the others turned to find a small platoon of the Dinotopian ground force, now it was the dromeasaurs that were surrounded. Each of the prisoners looked to each other slightly surprised and very enthusiastic, one of them spoke , "At last the tides are turning to our favor."

The dromeasaurs snarled and began lashing out, the sounds of the comotion began to draw in more solders from both sides, and soon, a full battle was ensuing.

-Ambushing Falokar-

Away from the complex Falokar was sleeping soundly, still happy about the other day's events, however a sudden snapping sound woke him, and he found himself staring down the blade end of a spear, several crossbows and some swords....
A solder walked over to some one of the other ones, "Sir we have his weapons and armor." Their commanding officer sneered, "So... caught you with you're pants off did we?"

Falokar scowled and then looked up a little, "You can kill me, but I warn you I might retaliate."

The commanding officer chuckled, "You're an arrogant one, arn't you."

Falokar stood up completely and stared him directly in the eyes, "Clearly you don't know who I am."
The officer grinned, "You're just another raptor, just like all the other scum here!"

Falokar smirked, tilting his head a little, "No... I'm not like the other dromeasaurs here, and you'd be a lot better off leaving here now, see unlike everyone else here, I know you're fighting styles, and I have to say, I'm not even close to worried. I will be taking my armor back, as well as my weapons, you can either give them to me now, and be spared a lot of pain, or you can have you're faces shoved into the dirt, and I do mean all of you." He glared at the group of twelve solders around him, there was a pause, then they started laughing at him, "Just who do you think you are? Othgar?"

Falokar shook his head, "Heh, no afraid not, I make Othgar look nice, the name's Falokar, and as of right now, you're name is drum!"

Once Falokar said his name, several of the solders backed up and looked at him shocked, one of them spoke, "Wait... Falokar, as in THE Falokar from the D.C.M.A?"

Falokar nodded, "Formerly of the D.C.M.A"
They backed up some more, "Umm , sir, I think we should take his advice... Falokar is one of the more skilled fighters from Dinotopia, he's renowned for his skills in martial arts"

Their Officr laughed, "He's a punk kid!, Get him!"
the solders lunged forward attacking, Falokar grinned a little and narrowed his eyes, he began dodging their attacks and then jumped up into the air, landing on one solder's spear, his weight thrusted the spear into the ground and he gripped the staff attatched to it and swung himself around and threw a kick at the holder of the spear, then performed a backflip landing on top of another solder he wrapped his tail around their waist and threw them to the ground then took ahold of their leg and gave the solder a hard kick to the side of the knee, fractureing his leg, the solder cried out in pain.

This continued for no more than five minutes, before Falokar had the entire group on the ground injured at the legs, he dawned his armor and blades then took off for the complex.

"Great we've been ambushed, I hope the others are alright."

- The Battle Inside-

Dirge was giving orders to his troops as he fought against a group of seven solders at once, Bloodpetal back to back with him, "They keep coming, think you can handle this?"

Dirge laughed, "Well it might be difficult if one more showed up."

Bloodpetal giggled back, "Well then I guess that'll have to be the one I take care of!" the two of them charged into battle and continued fighting.

A dromeasaur ran up to them and saluted, "The prisoners are escaping!"

Dirge scowled, it all made sense now, this wasn't a full on attack, it was a rescue mission!
“Stop them, they must not escape! Get everyone we have on this!” He commanded, the dromeasaur saluted and ran off.

-On the roof-

Kestria had been put on patrol with Scratch, they hadn’t said too much to each other since the break up, and Kestria felt a little sorry for Scratch, but was happy that he had decided to do what was best for her and everyone else. A sudden screech made them both look up, just in time to see several Skybax diving at them from the air, Kestria screamed and ducked, “We’re under attack” Scratch took to defending Kestria, fending off the skybax…. Kestria got to her feet and took to fighting along side Scratch, “Ugh… where’s Falokar when we need him?” she paused, “I hope he’s alright.”
Scratch nodded, “Don’t worry, if anyone can handle defending themselves, it’s him, I’m sure he’ll be here in no time.”

-The battle inside-
Falokar rushed into the complex both weapons drawn, as an arrow whizzed by his head. He looked around, it was complete chaos in here, he ran forward and began taking out the solders that were over powering the other dromeasaurs, they were being out numbered at least five to one. Falokar frowned as he tried to even the odds… so far he’d been lucky to get away without a scratch on him, but then again his armor was really helping out a lot. He ducked one attack and juked another, then slashed back at his attackers, injuring them both , not fatally, but enough to keep them from fighting anymore.
A sudden yell made Falokar turn around, as he saw Dirge charging forward hacking left and right, fighting purely enraged, Falokar watched for a minute, then saw something out of the corner of his eye… an archer was readying an arrow and was aiming it at Dirge…before Falokar could even give a warning the arrow was shot and a howl filled the air. Dirge fell to the ground greviously injured by the shot. Bloodpetal turned to see what had happened and became enraged herself, she took to clearing out an entire section of the room, and was advancing on the solder that had shot Dirge. A barrage of Arrows flew at her, from the other archers, each one met a fatal mark but yet she kept coming, Falokar ran forward and began taking out the archers and their back up guardians, but it was too late, Bloodpetal fell to the ground, near Dirge, she was dead before she even hit the floor.
The battle continued for several minutes before the main forces of the dromeasaurs began to retreat back further into the complex, the rest of the Dinotopian army in hot persuit. Falokar was about to follow when he suddenly felt a hand on his tail… he turned to see Dirge holding onto him.
“DIRGE! Are you alright? Can you move?” he asked, hoping the answers were yes.
Dirge grinned and coughed a little, “F..Falokar, Heh… she always did want to name our first son that.”
Falokar looked at him confused, “What…. Who ?”
Dirge smiled, “You’re mother, Alia… she had always wanted to name her first son Falokar, which translates in our ancient tongue to mean “Angelic Blade”, she thought the name would be fitting of you.”
Falokar frowned, “H..How do you know that Sir… in fact, how do you even know my mother at all?”
Dirge swallowed hard then took a breath, “ I know Falokar.. b…because I loved your mother…. Alia and I had been childhood friends, we grew up together on this island, we went through training together, hunted together, and over the years, a relationship was formed. We loved each other deeply, and infact you’re mother was the original leader of our clan, i..it was she that first started bringing the clans together into what they are now.”
Falokar looked at Dirge with full attention, “W..what are you trying to say Dirge?” he asked sounding concerned.
Dirge smiled and held a hand out rubbing Falokar across his snout, (as Falokar had fallen to his knees) “What I’m, trying to say Falokar is…. That you remind me of her. You have all the best qualities that she had, and even look like her a little bit. I’m glad I got to meet you, and spend time with you, my son.”
Falokar’s eyes widened, “W…What?” he could hardly believe what he was hearing , son? Was Dirge actually his Father?”
Dirge looked at him, for the first time a look of pride showing through, “You have grown into a fine young dromeasaur Falokar, and…. I... I…ung” he winced in pain from his wound, “I am leaving you in charge of our clan, I know that if anyone can lead them it will be you.”
Falokar nodded, “Alright… I… I’ll to make you proud of me…”
Dirge smile, “I already am Falokar, now go.. go take charge, this is it, you’re chance to make a name for yourself… take it” Dirge closed his eyes and laid his head on the ground, Falokar felt Dirge’s body grow strangly cold. He snuffled a little and patted Dirge’s head.
“I…I will Dad, I’ll do my best.” With that Falokar got to his feet and took up his blades, a faint memory from long ago flashed through his mind, it was of a motion his mom did with the two weapons.” Falokar followed the motions and heard a click sound, the blades had connected at the hilts, creating a butterfly blade, Falokar smirked and ran off into the complex, he arrived at the battle in a matter of minutes, to find Snapper, Sludge, and several others fighting to defend themselves… Falokar jumped into the fray and began taking down solders left and right… “Get out of here guys!, there’s no way we can fight them here and win… get out while you can!” Sludge and Snapper nodded, “Where’s Dirge, Falokar?”
Falokar lowered his head and looked over a little, “He..He’s gone, they took him down, Bloodpetal too.”
Sludge and Snapper looked to each other, “Wait, we’re leaderless?”
Falokar shook his head, “No…Dirge left me in charge, now don’t argue with me, retreat into the jungle, we can regroup later and try to retake the complex if we have too.’
Sludge and Snapper nodded, “Alright, take care of yourself Falokar, we’ll gather who we can!”
Falokar nodded, “Alright, be safe you two, I have to go find Kestria and Scratch!”
Sludge and Snapper smiled, “They’re up on the south tower last we checked, go get her Falokar!”
With that Falokar took off towards the south tower, injuring anyone that got in his way, soon he found himself at the spiral stair case that lead up the tower.

-The battle on the tower-

“Scratch! Help me!” Kestria screamed as several Dinotopian guards had taken to tying her up and were dragging her towards the hatch… Scratch himself was being overtaken by several solders and skybax at once, one officer yelled, “Take him down, we can’t let one like him live!”
The hatch to the down stairs opened as the Dinotopian solders were starting to go down the stairs, one climbed down first so that he could take a hold of Kestria when they passed her down, suddenly he was yanked backwards and a scream sounded.
Another solder looked down into the opening, “What in the blazes is going on down there?” suddenly he lurched forward and vanished out of sight another scream sounded…. Kestria shuddered as she thought about what could possibly be doing that.
Suddnely Falokar jumped up through the opening and landed on the other side of Kestria, between her and the other solders.
“Falokar!” Kestria cired out in delight, “Boy am I glad to see you.”
Falokar nodded, “it’s good to see you’re still here too Kestria” He helped Kestria to her feet and cut her bindings, “I think Scratch could use some assistance.” Kestria nodded, and picked up a reverse blade sword, “Alright , let’s go!” the two of them charged forward and began to take out the Dinotopian solders that were overpowering Scratch… Scratch rose up and broke the ropes tying him. “It’s good to see you made it alright Falokar” Falokar saluted, “The joy is returned Scratch, it’s good to see that you were able to hold them off until I could show up.”
Scratch nodded, “However..” there came a loud roar below them, “ I think Sweethorror, may need my help” with that he jumped off the tower and into the jungle below… Kestria tuned to Falokar… “Thank you for coming to help me Falokar… that was … sweet of you” Falokar grinned, “That’s great and all Kestria, but for right now… we gotta get out of here!” a sudden violent tremor shook the complex causing Falokar to fall on his back and Kestria to fall on top of him… both of them blushed and got to their feet quickly. Falokar took her hand, “Come on!” the two off them took off running down the tower stairs and through the complex, another tremor shook the entire area…. Falokar stopped, “It seems like those tremors are getting worse…” a loud sound occurred, like the ground was tearing, and large cracks began to form in the ground as steam shot up from the vents. Falokar jumped back and pulled Kestria out of the way, “Geeze something is causeing this island volcano to become active!” just then the prisoners and the pentaceratops Peter ran by, and stopped as they spotted falokar, the one named Hazen stopped and walked towards them, “F…falokar… a..are you willing to join us? We… we could help you get back to Dinotopia”
Falokar shook his head, “No, I’ll be fine, you and you’re friends get out of here, this place feels like it’s gonna go up any second!”
Hazen looked like he was gonna say something else, but Falokar moved next to Kestria and took her hand, then Hanzen nodded, “Ok take care of yourself”
Falokar nodded, “You too, give my reguards to the rest of Dinotopia, he then turned to Kestria, “Come on Let’s get going” they took off going another direction away from the prisoners.

Falokar and kestria made it out of the complex in time to see what was really going on… the volcano was erupting! A magma flow had started and had already taken most of complex on the south and east sides… Falokar frowned… “Aww man… there goes the complex…. On the Brightside we won’t have to try and take it back, cause now it won’t be there anymore”
Kestria gave a morbid giggle “Yeah, b… but what about the others?”
Falokar nodded, “I’ve ordered Snapper and Sludge to gather what remants they can and we can regroup in the forest.”
Kestria nodded and took Falokar’s hand, “Ok, let’s go, I’m sure we’ll start finding others soon.”
Falokar grinned and took Kestria’s hand and lead her into the forest.
-Thundertail and 08jedi you may tell your side, or version of this battle if you wish, and you may god mod Tarion to resuce Tebo and Ajax. After which point we can all work on an epilogue, and final conclusion-

Tag: everyone involved.

[Thundertail]

IC: Tebo Lewis and lady Natasha. The search for sir Bentfeather.

Even though Tebo Lewis was not adept at moving stealthily, he had the youth and cunning to stay as hidden as possible; keeping to the walls and pausing to peek around corners as he searched for the right passages, and didn’t storm down the halls with noisy footfalls like a fool. He was no slouch with the sword, as lady Natasha observed while she trailed him; but most of his moves were of sheer luck then anything as he caught his first guard off guard as the creature rounded a corner, Tebo catching him in the throat with an errant sword thrust. All Tebo did after that was to pull the sword out and let the little monster slide to the stone floor; where Natasha was left to drag the creature around a corner and leave the body in a secluded alcove. Tebo did not really have a clue as to which direction to go, for all he did was follow the passages to where they went; and had to double back several times, not noticing lady Natasha was following him as she hid as he passed by her several times.

Lady Natasha watched as he engaged another little monster, nearly being hobbled as the creature leapt over him and turned with his sword; but Tebo counter parried behind his back and eviscerated the beast before he completed his leap. This time he kicked the creature into a corner and moved on, looking this way and that to get his bearings in the labyrinthine maze that was the temple complex. Onward lady Natasha followed, cleaning up the boy’s dirty work as she passed by murder scene after murder scene. Tebo seemed to be listening and smelling the air in the effort of finding his Partner; almost like it was a sixth sense he was using to locate Bentfeather. That sense seemed to be working as they reached the upper levels and in areas both remembered when they were first brought here, and pretty soon even lady Natasha’s keener sense of smell could just barely make out the scent of a Microraptor; one that hadn’t seen a decent bath in days, and one that was experiencing intense fear and heart-crushing despair.

At the threshold of a double wooden door hundreds of yards later, Tebo stopped in the well lighted hallway, beaded with the sweat of battle and blood, not much was his own; and craned his head as he heard the faint squawking of someone familiar, and the human voice of someone he never heard before. Crouching and looking through the keyhole, he saw the faint image of a man with a grey goatee and robes; pacing this way and that out of sight most of the time, and in the extreme range of vision through the keyhole he saw an iron cage on a sconce imbedded in a pillar.

Within it was the forlorn form of his friend Bentfeather!

Tebo rose from his crouch and breathed silently, steeling himself for what he was about to do; for walking in on someone reputedly as dangerous as Nicolai Sanders was an act of suicide, and not within Dinotopian ethics! He being as prepared as he was ever going to be, slowly lifted his arms and grasped both iron handles and turned them noiselessly. In complete silence and surprise for those within, he shoved both doors open to crash on their frames and the walls beyond. Both occupants looked up in shock, and after both had time to react; the human took on a scowl while the Microraptor took one of joy. Tebo Lewis took two steps inside and brandished his bloody sword, making for the maniacal human just now rushing for the suit of armor on the other side of the room…

_

IC: The escaped prisoners. Finding the way out of the complex.

Of the eleven prisoners that originated in the dungeon, only nine of them skulked around in the underground passages trying to find the way out; for two were out on assignments of their own, finding the twelfth member of their group of friends, sir Bentfeather. Officer Ajax was kicking himself for allowing them to go on such a dangerous mission, for it should have been him that went to do that; but instead it was his job to get the rest of them out of there, provided the guards they passed and ambushed didn’t kill them all first! Most of his charges were civilians, and hardly adept in this type of operation; but by their looks he saw the stealth all of them were forced to employ, just so they could get away alive.

Only the ones trained in stealthy maneuvering through unknown areas really knew what they were doing as they headed out from the dungeon area and into the unknown labyrinth of underground corridors and chambers within the temple complex, and that was why officer Ajax and April Manchester took the lead to try and find a safer way out for their lesser experienced charges. Olu and Artemis took the rear as there was unknown dangers all around them, and took out any of the evil guards if they tried to sneak out behind the group; but the rest seemed to get the hint and keep quiet while they crept along with the group. Even though Polongo knew the occasional tavern brawl, just like his Partner Seamus; neither wished to take combat initiative as danger came and fell from ahead and behind.

“Why do we take this way?”. April whispered silently as they exited the corridor that bisected the dungeon area. They had taken the way that Tebo and Natasha had not taken, for it seemed safer after a brief reconnoiter from Frak.

“I tried to memorize the way we came when we first got here.”, Ajax told her, mostly by sign language. “We came from this direction.”

Olu yanked a guard from within a closed chamber and quietly throttled him. Artemis took the creature and killed it with her sword before kicking it into a corner.

“How are we going to get us all out?”, April asked. “We are few and the enemy is many.”

“The way is clear up to the next corridor.”, Frak reported as he appeared from a hidden doorway. “I will scout left.”, and disappeared down through another doorway, where the squawk of a dying guard was soon heard.

Instinctively Redcrest stayed near Hazen as they cautiously walked along, waving her little dagger ahead as if it could detect any danger; and Randy was of little help as he made the most noise as he trundled along, tail waving side to side more of nerves than balance.

“There, there little one…”, Randy cooed to her. “We’re ok so far, so don’t worry!…”

Frak dispatched the guard he surprised and scouted some more side corridors and rooms he passed, wishing that his mate was by his side; and it was not necessarily for any moral support or love, but for the simple fact that she was far smarter and more resourceful than he. Frak stopped to sniff the air when no apparent threat was seen, and his earslits picked up nothing amiss; but this could be deceiving as most carnivores use stealth to capture their prey! He gulped and went alone down two more passages, and saw that his sense of smell for cleaner air did not fail him as he discovered a wide stairway leading up; and hoped with all his heart before turning to tell the others the news that these stairs led to a short cut out of here!

“We go this way.”, Frak reported as he came back to the group. “But there is something funny about all of this…”

“I find none of this humorous!”, April said with disdain.

“What do you mean?”, Ajax asked seriously.

“There seems to be far less Dromeosaurs then I thought.”, Frak said. “I mean, didn’t this place used to be crawling with them?…”

“You may be right.”, Ajax thought. “Perhaps they are occupied elsewhere.”

“Say!… Maybe Postal Bird 76 was right!…”, Randy said at last. “He said that the battle for Culebra was commencing, and they would come here and rescue us…”, he winked. “Maybe those green goonies are fighting them and forgetting about us!…”

“Genius!… Then we must hurry and escape!”, Ajax said and got busy scouting ahead.

“But we must still be careful.”, April cautioned. “There may still be a few of them around…”

“Yeah, let’s not look a gift-dino in the mouth!…”, Randy added and followed the rest…
_


IC: Dirge and his troops versus the saurian guards and the Skybax. The attack on the stronghold.

The vanguard of saurian guards and their steeds marched down the coastal road and through the thick jungles in phalanx until they converged on a forlorn skeleton of a Triceratops standing braced in a thicket in the middle of the greenery. This was when they knew they were getting close to Nicolai Sanders’ stronghold; for no upstanding Dinotopian would place such an abomination out as a marker for a path unless that person was of the deranged nature!

Onward the troops marched, oblivious of the watchers in the woods; ones who saw their advancements and quickly retreated into the jungle to take paths only they knew back to the main entrance to the temple complex. Sludge went to the first Dromeosaur guard on watch, avoiding Grond’s playful snap, and told her what he saw; and she led him deep into the complex until they found their leader, Dirge.

“Sir, a large group of warriors approaches!”, Sludge told him. “Leigons, by their ranks!”

“That so?…”, Dirge said. “Well, don’t just stand there!… Assemble the troops and engage them!”

“Yes, sir.”, Sludge saluted and ran to do as ordered.

“Pineseed, why aren’t you at your post?”, he inquired.

“Yes sir!”, she said and ran back to her duties.

“It has begun…”, Dirge considered as many more carnivorous saurians congregated. “Clan brothers and sisters. A great army is advancing on us. We must protect our heritage at all costs, our honor to our ancestors. Go out and die well!”, all present scattered, many to enlist the others in the complex.

Outside in the jungles the mounted saurian guards were advancing down the wide lane that led to the main entrance, and the entrance’s protectors were placing themselves in hidden positions all up and down that lane; for they knew the area well as it was their home, and waited for the leaders there to give the signal for attack. That signal never came as enemy archers with crossbows opened fire on the largest defender there, Grond! The Giganotosaurus was no slouch in fighting, for he dodged many by ducking into the foliage; only getting hit harmlessly with a few, of which he whimpered profusely for someone to remove them!

That was all the signal the Dromeosaur warriors needed, for then they sprung out of every hiding place and engaged in battle the saurians and humans fighting them; and they fought with the ferocity of their wild ancestors, tooth and nail as well as with the conventional weapons they carried with them. The battle at the front gate lasted all day and into the night with no certain outcome pending; but that place was not where all the fighting commenced, as Skybax by the hundreds sought out other enemy troops; and engaged them as clearance became available for them to do so. Many fell that day; but if all knew the overwhelming danger to come, their number would have been far fewer indeed!…
_

TAG: Hazen and o8jedi’s characters. Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Tebo Lewis, Bentfeather, lady Natasha and Nicolai Sanders. Tebo and the madman.

Tebo Lewis stood in the doorway of Nicolai Sander’s chambers, sword in hand and a look of determination on his adolescent face; noticing with a scowl the decrepit condition of sir Bentfeather in that horrid cage, and especially the sneering and goateed face of the madman that had put him there. Instead of saying anything, Nicolai casually strolled to the suit of gleaming armor in the corner, eyeing the lad innocently as he drew the broadsword from it’s scabbard attached to the armor; it coming out with a hiss as he strolled back to the center of the room.

“Come in, lad. Come in!”, said Sanders, smiling evilly. “My friend has been telling me all about you!”

“Let sir Bentfeather go!”, Tebo demanded in his meanest voice.

“Oh come now!”, Sanders said. “Sit and be comfortable!… I was just about to make some tea. Join me?…”

“Enough of this!”, Tebo made a stance. “Let him go or pay the consequences!”, he readied his own sword. “I must warn you, I know how to use this!…”

Nicolai Sanders bellowed out a laugh. “And as a rescuer, they have sent you a mere BOY?!…”, he lowered his own sword as he regarded the one in the cage. “Oh please Bentfeather, certainly you could do better than THIS!…”, he laughed some more.

“He is a good friend…”, Bentfeather admitted. “A better friend than YOU have ever been!…”, this he spat!

“Well, I’d wager he is good at neither.”, Sanders got into a fighting stance. “And if he is a good friend, he will be a dead one; for I would wager he is not nearly as good at the sword as I!…”, he swung his sword around.

“I have been trained by the greatest swordsman in all of Dinotopia…”, Tebo lied. Even though officer Ajax was no slouch with the sword, he probably wasn’t the best on the island; and even though he knew the few lessons he had gotten by him did not make him any kind of expert by a long shot, he knew he had to do everything he could to save sir Bentfeather or die trying! “En-guard’!…”, Tebo said and stepped into the fray.

“Ooh!…”, Nicolai said as he easily blocked Tebo’s first thrust. “A feisty one!…”, he counter swung and Tebo barely blocked it with the hilt of his sword, stumbling a bit.

“Careful Tebo!…”, Bentfeather warned from his cage. “He took up fencing lessons as a lad…!”

“What a wonderful memory you have, my friend!”, Sanders said as he playfully blocked and dodged two of Tebo’s best efforts. “Perhaps when this hatchling is dead, we can share some more old memories!…”, another surprise block sent the swords ringing again.

Lady Natasha heard the exchanges, but stayed well back around the doorway, waiting for the chance to sneak in and help poor Tebo. Her loaded crossbow she held at port arms as she craned around to see, but had to duck back quickly as mister Sanders had turned his head in her direction. Sir Bentfeather saw her peek for only a second, but kept silent of the matter as now his hopes of getting out of there was only marginally better with her here. Lady Natasha ventured another look at the sword battle going on, and marveled at the fact that Tebo was not cut to ribbons just yet!

Tebo thrust and parried this much taller and stronger adversaries’ blows, bringing to bear everything officer Ajax had taught him on the trip over here. He dodged and parried another of his flourishes, but Nicolai’s greater strength sent him staggering with every blow. As their swords locked, Sanders thrust him into a wall, and Tebo nearly lost the grip of his sword as he got back up; and all the time the madman advanced and swung, hardly giving poor Tebo the chance to recover or get back up. Lady Natasha saw an opportunity to enter the room as Tebo scrabbled behind some crates and mister Sanders following, and she leapt across the twenty feet to hide behind a row of book shelves; and this was in sir Bentfeather’s view, so she shushed him with eye gestures. Sir Bentfeather nodded and went back to watch the swordfight, not wishing to give away any advantage they had, no matter how small it was.

“Oh, please give up, lad!…”, Sanders sang as he nearly batted Tebo’s sword from his hands once again. “I promise I will kill you quickly… No pain, I assure you!…”

“That would be real convenient, wouldn’t it…”, Tebo gasped and lunged for Nicolai’s feet. This sent both staggering to the center of the chamber, but Nicolai recovered first.

“Who taught you to fight dirty?…”, Sanders readied and swung, but Tebo’s block stopped it cold! “I fight dirtier!…”

Nicolai Sanders grabbed Tebo’s sword wrist and flung him across the room with all of his fevered strength, and Tebo hit the suit of armor with a gigantic clatter; and the armor fell apart from it’s mounting to crash all around and on top of the lad! He had lost his sword, and was amid the metallic debris when Sanders advanced; and Tebo didn’t notice as he was alternately trying to excavate himself from the pieces and trying to find a weapon! Lady Natasha peered around the book shelf, crossbow already aimed; but she still could not get a clear shot, but she beaded in on the action using the crossbow sight as a targeting device. Sir Bentfeather gasped at poor Tebo’s situation, but then spotted the battle axe right near Tebo’s left hand that the lad did not see, and squawked loudly.

“Tebo!… The battle axe by your hand!”, he ruffled excitedly. “Go chop some wood!…”

A second later Tebo’s hand found the axe, which had a cruel axe blade on one side with a crueler spike on the other; and sported a handle twice as long as the hatchet he was used to in the campsite, and at last grasped it like he was to split some logs as he got up with it. Sanders saw the boy’s new weapon and smiled, suspecting the lad had as little experience with this weapon than his previous one; and thrust upwards to catch the blade with his pummel and wrench it from the boy’s grasp. Fortunately, wielding an axe was the basis of Tebo’s musculature, and the boy held fast as Sanders’ sword halted in mid maneuver. Tebo swung it around in a figure eight arc, untangling the tie-up and came within inches of eviscerating Sanders as he leapt away.

“So, you’re good at chores, eh boy?…”, Sanders sneered and gained some distance from the swooping weapon. “I’ll give you more chores for you than you can handle…!”

Nicolai Sanders grabbed the battle axe as it was swung again, near the middle of the handle; where he twisted his wrist and wrenched it from the boy’s grasp, then made a pushing kick that sent Tebo on his back in the middle of the floor! Sanders hefted the battle axe before he lifted it to a chopping position, stepping ever closer to his victim; and Bentfeather screeched as he knew it was the end for the boy. But just then Nicolai Sander’s face took a look from manic determination to complete astonishment as a flower of red sprouted on the front of his robes. The grip on the axe loosened and it fell with a clatter on the stone floor by Tebo’s prone feet. Sanders made a slow step, and his whole body collapsed, weight nearly crushing Tebo’s feet. The crossbow bolt that stuck out his back was fired from lady Natasha’s crossbow, the first and only chance she got in the whole matter; and she rushed over to see if Tebo was all right.

“You…”, Tebo panted as he was helped up by her. “Were here…, all this time?…”, he straightened his clothing and found his glasses were missing. “And you let me get beat like that?…”

“Someone had to make sure you didn’t get yourself killed!”, Natasha half scolded. “And I had to wait for a clear shot…”

“Tebo!… The keys in his pocket…”, Bentfeather shook the bird cage door. Tebo began to fumble for them.

"We must get out of here…”, Natasha observed, spying the glint of Tebo’s glasses and retrieving them.

“But first we must turn off that infernal machine. Nicolai has activated it!”, Tebo rushed over to unlock the cage after he placed his glasses on his face. “Oh my friend!… I missed you so…!”, he hugged.

“No time for that, you two!”, Natasha smiled. “Where is it?”

“Through the iron doors.”, Bentfeather disengaged the hug. “But careful!… It has strange properties!…” Too late as she flung the doors open!

Instantly the thrum of the machinery could be felt as well as heard, stony grindings in sync with the pulsating lights inside making a throbbing undertone as the workings of the machinery slowly increased; but it’s pace was far more rapid than Bentfeather had remembered, and this was his last coherent thought as a wave of nothingness took over his mind! Lady Natasha shook her head, holding it in pain, and bellowed before she stood in the doorway like a statue; and Tebo could not figure out why, so he went to his friend and picked him up.

“What is it?… What’s wrong?…”, he asked softly, and thanks to the effects of the machine, Bentfeather told him in monotone.

“The machine takes away the will of all saurians… Only humans are not effected…”, Bentfeather breathed. “Metal seems to block it… Please put me in the cage, so I may help you…”

“Yes friend…”, Tebo complied, and Bentfeather almost immediately went back to a semblance of himself.

“Now, the machine needs to be shut down.”, Bentfeather then said. “I do not know how to turn it off, so you’ll have to destroy it.”

“How?”, Tebo asked helplessly.

“Take the battle axe and smash the Tyrannosaur artifact.”, he looked at his friend, who was unsure. “Do it quickly, before it fully activates!”

Tebo complied, going to the artifact on the pedestal; which now looked like the head of a snake. He poised the blade end of the weapon and swung, only to be stopped by it’s rocky hardness; and several swings later proved just as useless, and he looked at his mentor. “Tell lady Natasha to do it… She will comply without question in her state…!”

Nodding, he went to her. “Lady Natasha. Destroy the Tyrannosaur artifact…”, and led her into the Snake Chapel as he handed her the axe.

Lady Natasha hefted the axe woodenly and aimed the blade where Tebo indicated, intending it like chopping someone’s head off; and she swung, but the stone clamps fastening it to the pedestal proved stronger than Tebo thought. She kept on swinging in a robot-like fashion until at last the head popped free to shatter into it’s stone components on the floor. The effects were immediate in the chamber, and could also be sensed everywhere else in the complex; as the ground shook under everyone’s feet and sent everyone staggering, and the pinnacle atop the caldera of the extinct volcano began to shudder.

The pinnacle had completely unfurled in the past several hours of activation, top third of the spire splitting open like a budding flower to reveal a large green sunstone that pulsed with the volcano’s power. It had just gotten enough power to begin to glow brighter than the sun, and the opened petals were beginning to catch the energy and storing it; where at the right moment, would be shot from there to the Prime Sunstone, changing the face of Dinotopia forever. But this would never happen now as the shakings were beginning to take it’s toll on the pinnacle, breaking off chunks of it at the base and destabilizing the whole structure; and soon it would weaken enough to send the whole structure toppling into the caldera, where the heat building within was already hot enough to vaporize water.

In the Snake Chapel, the pedestal that held the head had begun to slowly sink into the stone floor; but nobody there had noticed as the whole control panel beyond began to smoke and spark, but the actions of it began to increase alarmingly! Natasha, still in her trance, continued to chop away at thin air until Tebo had to tell her to stop; but he still did not know how to shut the machinery off!

“It’s not stopping!”, Tebo yelled. “What do I do?…”

“The amulet within the artifact was placed inside the machine.”, Bentfeather said. “The stone disk behind the snake head, see it?”, he nodded. “It’s behind there. Get the amulet and destroy it!”

Tebo pulled the battle axe from Natasha’s grasp and went to the disk, but this stone was as hard as the artifact was; so he had her do the smashing, and after several hit’s the disk broke away. Tebo had her stop and wrenched the jeweled amulet out, but it wouldn’t break no matter how hard he stomped on it; and lady Natasha’s trance-like efforts were useless as well. Tebo looked around helplessly as the machinery began to give off extreme heat, and then turned to see that the pedestal had completely sunk into the floor; and the hole it went into sank below them, going down infinitely, and sulfurous smoke began wafting from it after a few moments.

Bentfeather noticed it too, spoke. “That shaft must go directly to the magma core…”, he said. “After all, this IS a volcanic mountain!”

“I can’t destroy the amulet.”, Tebo reminded. “What do I do?”

“Throw the amulet into the hole.”, said Bentfeather. “The lava will surely destroy it!”, and Tebo complied.

Nearly immediately lady Natasha came out of her trance. “What happened?”, she shook her dome.

“I’ll tell you later…”, Tebo said as they both rushed out of the Snake Chapel.

They came out and saw a sad sight indeed, for Bentfeather had left the cage and was now down at Nicolai Sanders’s corpse; and he was crying and grieving profusely over the death of his Partner. Tebo crouched at his side, but he shrugged off any sign of empathy the boy gave; the rumbling at their feet increasing by the second. This rumbling was drowning out noises coming from the floor, and faint mouth motions by the presumably dead human caught Bentfeather’s attention; so he shushed them all, crouching to listen clearer.

“M-my… fr-riennnnd…”, Nicolai Sanders could barely be heard by the earslit an inch from his mouth. “For-givvve… me… (a rattling cough), I-I… was… wro…”, his lungs exhaled andf he breathed no more.

“Don’t struggle, my friend!…”, Bentfeather told him. “We’ll get you out!…”

“No use…”, lady Natasha said after listening to his heart‘s last beat. “He’s gone…”

“Nooooo…!!!”, Bentfeather screeched. “Take him with us!…”

“We don’t have time!”, Natasha said as she noticed the smoke filling the chapel and chamber chokingly. “There’s nothing that can be done for him!… Let’s get out of here!”

Tebo got up and had to rip Bentfeather from Nicolai’s clothing almost roughly as lady Natasha rushed to the iron doors and closed them, noticing that the hole in the floor was now oozing magma; and the doors were beginning to get scalding even before her hands left the handles. She yanked Tebo up by his scruff and shoved him toward the chamber doors, he stagger-running ahead of her as Bentfeather squawked in his arms. At this point none of them had the presence of mind to look back, but if they looked into the room they were just in, they would have seen the iron doors begin to turn an eerie shade of cherry red!…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Peter and Hydra, the destruction of the water facility.

The atmosphere at the water collection facility of the temple complex had always been humid and musty thanks to the two new occupants there, but today it seemed extra hot; and Peter had been thinking that the weather outside had achieved a record heat wave, and this must have been the reason for the sudden rise in temperature. He sweated and chaffed under the harnesses that bound him to his wheel, one that turned a water screw that propelled water from an underground stream somewhere to the cistern that provided water for all these toothy scale-heads; and he was appalled at the fact that they were drinking from the same water he was forced to drink! The guard that had fastened him to his wheel today did a lousy job of doing so, for it was loose and the straps dangled; chaffing him all the more while the loose leather end threatened to trip him at every step!

He saw that Hydra was doing no better than he, for her older form seemed to not be able to take such heat as she panted and struggled at her wheel, moisture oozing everywhere as she made greater efforts than usual. Even though she was gruff and didn’t care about too much, she proved to be the only friend he was able to meet on this trip; her giving somewhat sage advice about his troubles, and warning him of the demeanors of the ones they were with. But even so she was cold and aloof when it came to telling of herself; and Peter reasoned that her life must have been full of hardship indeed to be so cold toward the world, and he both pitied her lot in life while hating those who had done it to her all at the same time. Peter had to admit that they were a pair all right, two beat up dinos that hated the world and everything about it; and both were too hardened by this to ever think that one might like the other, and the fact that she was too darn old!

“Don’t you think it’s getting hotter in here?…”, Peter sad as Hydra came around her wheel again.

“Clam up!”, Hydra told him, then continued as she came around again. “I don’t know why you’re so hot…”, another time around. “I’m the one doing all the work!…”

“Ok,…”, Peter said as he went around. “Just making…”, another turn. “Conversation…!”, he looked down and saw hot mist forming at his feet, making his toes warmer.

“Our shift will be over…”, Hydra said, turning her wheel. “In three hours…”, she winced as she stepped in a scalding puddle. “Then it’s time for a cool drink!…”

“Say, Isn’t that steam…”, Peter said as he walked in a circle. “Coming from the water screw?…”

“Yes it is…”, Hydra observed as she went around. “Why is that?”

“I don’t know…”, Peter said. “But it seems way hotter than it was a minute ago!”

“It is!…”, Hydra agreed finally. “What do we do?…”

“We got to get out of here!”, Peter said. “Can you get out of your harness?”, Peter struggled with his.

“No!”, Hydra bellowed. “The steam is thicker now… And it BURNS!!!”

Peter Triceratops struggled with his harness, loosening it thanks to the shoddy job the Dromeosaur who rigged him up that morning did with it; but still the geared wheel he was tied to pulled him around again, and he saw Hydra being pulled right through the thickening steam again! As she bellowed with the pain, Peter pulled and pulled on his leather rigging; and finally got that strap loose, and in several more revolutions was half out of the straps that bound him. Hydra was still completely within her bindings, stretching them to their elastic limits with her efforts to break them; but it was not enough as her best efforts were being thwarted by the movement of the wheel she was rigged to, and she screamed through the steam again! With the remainder of his strength, peter pulled and three of his straps broke in rapid succession; and he tripped out of the rest of them as he went to Hydra’s side to try and bite off her bindings, but this was no good as she was dragged through the steam again.

“I’ll try to find someone to free you!”, Peter yelled as the steam intensified. “Hey!… Wait up!…”, Peter ran to intercept the Dromeosaur sprinting past the doorway to the facility. The beast did not stop, nor did he acknowledge the Triceratops! “Rude pollywog!…”, he looked in to see Hydra slowly being poached! “I need to go get someone… Hang on, OK?…”

“I‘ll try…”, Hydra was teary with scalded pain. “Oh, hurry!…”, she was dragged through the room full of live steam again, and screamed her loudest yet!

As Peter was running out of the area, the whole mountain rumbled; and a blast of steam erupted from the water collection facility, making him be blasted against a junction wall. Within the blast he heard hydra’s garbled bellow; and that was extinguished instantly to be replaced by the jetting of many tons of steam. Peter made a bellow of his own and bolted down the corridor as fast as his feet would allow, going many hundreds of yards until the strength in his legs began to give out; and that’s when it hit him that the best friend he had on this trip was now dead, and he didn’t care about the growing rumbling at his feet as he plodded along forlornly. Many Dromeosaurs ran past, two stopping to warn him of certain things; for one told of battle at the main gate, and another saying the volcano is awakening. He knew he had to escape the temple complex at all costs, but was too sad to run for his life; and he looked on the ground for most of the way, looking occasionally at where he was going before doing likewise again. That was why he did not see the baby Parasolophus when she ran into his legs, and when their eyes met; both of them screamed, and the little one rushed back up the corridor the way she had come!

“You?!…”, Peter said, then noticed her running. “Hey!… Don’t go that way!…”, he took chase.

The hatchling was fast, but Peter’s wider gait kept her within many yards of him as he ran after her. She took twists and turns, and finally stopped at the knees of one of the humans in the group he now found himself in the midst of. All adults had weapons, and all of them seemed to recognize him; just like he had recognized every one of them, for these were the persons that were supposed to be in the dungeon! Instead of being afraid of their weapons, he glared at them one by one; hanging his head as he began to speak.

“The fact that you are here means you escaped the dungeon.”, peter stated flatly. “Well done so far, but if you take the main way out you’ll be captured once again.”, the rumbling at his feet told of his urgency. “That is if the place doesn’t crash down around our ears…”

“Let’s kill him!”, Randy offered.

“Let’s interrogate him!”, April said.

“NO, not now.”, Ajax said. “You said the main gate is well guarded?”

“There is a battle there.”, Peter told them. “Your troops are engaging ours, and I’m not going that way because I could get hurt by stray fire.”, he looked down the passageway behind the group. “I am going to the west gate, where it is less defended.”

“Why are you telling us all that?”, Frak asked him.

“First I must say that I don’t care whether you live or die.”, Peter told him flatly. “However, I intend to live, and I know the way out.”, he winked meanly. “I can’t stop you from following me, but you’ll be fools if you don’t.”

“I don’t trust him…”, April said as she drew everyone into a huddle.

Many moments later they disengaged, and Randy spoke next. “We will go with you.”, he got close to Peter’s horned face with his knobby one. “But if you make one wrong move, or betray us in any way; I will POUND you!”

“Right…”, Peter said with boredom, then turned and lumbered down the hallway past them…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

OCC: A double post... Sorry!

_

IC: Everyone currently at the temple complex, friend or foe. Escape impossible for some during the eruption and destruction.

Throughout the whole temple complex, as well as the environs beyond; tremors and excess heat could be felt the whole day long, and the hundreds of persons around the mountain gradually began to know that something extremely terrible was about to happen. Around the base of the mountain, streams began to dry up or run contrary to their beds, and several lesser traveled paths in the jungle began to sprout cracks and ravines of split earth; and many times during the various battles being engaged, both heroes and their adversaries halted their battles for the lack of balance on the now unstable and shaking ground. In the distance, as well as in spots all around and through the trees; grey smoke and steamy vapors vented into the sky, leading everyone to look toward the pinnacle of the mountain at the pall of oily smoke rising from the caldera thought to be dead so long ago. Deep within the temple complex, evidence of the severity of the eruption to come was even more evident; as in many places the hallways and chambers were collapsing, losing mortar and brickwork at an alarming rate, and causing great hazard to all who were quickly trying to find their way out. Steam and smoke was quickly filling the darkening passageways, robbing them of air and extinguishing many of the sconces used for light; and this was a further hindrance to persons trying to find their way out, only to find themselves trapped in blind alleys completely in the dark. In many of the lower areas, and quickly spreading to the upper levels, lava and toxic gasses began to waft and flow; killing persons instantly as with the boiling lava, or more slowly as with the gasses.

The two humans that had accompanied Petronas had gotten assignments in the kitchens in the lower levels, and their first indication that something was wrong was how the areas they were in was getting continually hotter; and then there was the fact that the smoke from their ovens was not escaping through the ventilation system, and the drains in the floor were not channeling the waste water off the floor. They had both felt the floor shake as they were preparing Midmeal for the hundreds of mistrustful beasts, and argued on what it could have been; but neither of them had any idea that the complex was built into an extinct volcano, and it never even occurred to them in their simple minds that possibility. They both ignored these abnormalities for the longest time, but these all grew more intense by the minute, and all of a sudden they saw lava oozing up from the floor grates, turning the cobbles cherry red and scalding them profusely - and of course, by this time it was too late for them to make their escape though they tried for all they were worth! Petronas himself, always diligent in keeping track of the lesser artifacts, was storing them in a chamber near the middle levels of the complex; and had been feeling tremors all day long, and worrying that the vibrations would damage these still valuable pieces. He had known that the mountain the complex was in used to be a volcano, but reasoned that it had long been dead; and there was no chance that it could reawaken, but he was slowly getting the feeling that his reasoning might be untrue with every single quake. As the hours and tremors wore on, he disregarded them until he began to notice the place was getting continually hotter; and when he opened the chamber door to leave, he saw a stream of lava approaching down the corridor right past him!

“Oh, no!…”, he croaked mournfully as he closed the door and waited for the inevitable.

Vox woke up as smoke poured into the dungeon area, and intense heat met him as he noticed he was chained to a wall in one of one of the jail cells. His diminutive stature had brought his feet clear off the floor, and his arms were being pulled from their sockets by his own weight. The other guards were near by, but their yelling and gasping told him that they were in the same predicament as he was! He yelled too, and the others voiced his fears that they were shackled to the walls too; and what was worse was the fact that dark smoke was filling the area, causing them all to begin to choke on it. The heat in the chamber was growing to searing intensities, but for their being shackled; they could not discern why. That reason soon became apparent as a glowing red river of lava began to fill the dungeon, rising up to slowly roast Vox where he hung. Through his screaming agony, the last thing he heard was the voices of the other guards caterwauling like he…


_

IC: Bentfeather, Tebo, Natasha. Ambushed by fire.

Tebo and lady Natasha sprinted out of the chambers that held the dreadful machinery that would bring Dinotopia to it’s knees, now a pile of smoldering rubble as the damage they had caused made a chain reaction within it; and it was slowly tearing itself apart. The machine was not the only thing that was being destroyed, for the machine was taking the whole mountain with it; which was evident in the rumblings in the floor at their feet, which threatened to capsize the both of them as they ran for their lives. The poor Microraptor, Bentfeather, clung to Tebo’s tunic in a death grip as the boy ran and maneuvered around the intersections, being righted occasionally by lady Natasha; who was trying to use her keener senses to navigate a way out, and one that was not blocked by debris and other dangers. Smoke and toxic fumes billowed out of the vents as they went past them, and at times they had to halt abruptly to avoid a currently collapsing section of hallway; and gasped in horror at the corpse of some unknown saurian that failed to avoid a recent cave in, or far worse turn back at a completely impassible blockage.

“This was the way out…”, Bentfeather said as they came out onto a completely collapsed intersection. “I’m sure of it!”

“This way.”, Natasha took the least crumbled passageway to their right.

“That will lead us back near the dungeons!”, Tebo said, having no choice but to run after her.

“Not quite.”, Natasha said. “I saw many guards go that way.”

“Why go to them?”, Bentfeather asked jerkily. “They are horrid and despicable!”

“They know the way best.”, Natasha told him. “If they were all going that way, then a way out must be where they went.”, she sprinted in that direction as she saw a rivulet of lava trail them a hundred yards to their rear.

Onward they ran, up and down stairways and through smoky corridors; not really sure that they way they chose would bring them to the outside, or lead them to a fiery end. By some miracle, or was it a lucky turn; they suddenly found themselves in the gigantic chamber they were placed the very first time they entered the temple complex, and suddenly all three knew where they were! But by the same twist of fate, many of the channels of lava they had seen along the way seemed to congregate there; and the crimson death came flooding in there from many of the passageways that radiated out from that space. The nearly continual quaking of the complex suddenly increased in magnitude, seeming to make the lava flow all the quicker.

As they ran from one portal to another in a thus far unsuccessful search for the one that led to the exit, the chamber began to fill; destroying anything remotely flammable, and closing in on them like a slowly tightening noose. As they dodged between crates and pillars, which seemed to burst into flame before they passed them; the lava seemed to be playing a game of cat-and-mouse with them as they dodged and jagged this way and that, trying in vain to avoid it. If either of them had the presence of mind to look up to the domed roof of the huge chamber, they would have noticed the smoke wafting out one of the portals to their right; leaving for the sheer pressure of the smoke to vent to the outside. bent feather was the first one to notice this, and squawked coughingly to get their attention.

“Look at the smoke!”, he pointed clinging to Tebo’s tunic. “It seems to be venting to the outside!”

“Then that is the way to go!”, Natasha coughed. “This way!…”, she dragged Tebo with her.

The trio dodged around crates and other obstacles toward where the sulfurous smoke was going, trying to steer a course where the lava had not gotten to; and finally leapt through the wide portal, keeping at a fast pace so the sinister fluid rock did not overtake them. The massive chamber behind them quickly began to fill until the whole floor space was a lake of fire, and still it followed them; even though the grade of the passageway sloped upward, giving their already tired legs more to work on. The lava was almost at their heels when they reached the giant maw that was the main entrance to the complex, giant stone teeth framed in smoky sunlight; and as they finally reached the jungle path beyond; a terrible sight met their eyes, making them run all that much faster!…
_



IC: Ajax, April, Frak, Randy, Olu, Artemis, April, Hazen, Redcrest, Peter. Mistrusting the leader.

Peter Triceratops lumbered on down the hallway, torches in sconces along the walls at intervals lighting the way; and nine former prisoners followed, though in their right mind they would have slain this traitor and be done with it. But still, what choice did they have? They did not know the way out, at least by the way this evil one was leading them; and the fact that the whole mountain was threatening to come down around their ears narrowed the choices down as well. Ajax let the yearling lead the way, keeping him just within sight in the gloomy passage; and followed him utilizing all of his trained skills to avoid detection from possible unseen dangers. The rest of the guardsmen did the same as he, fanning out and forming a perimeter along the path they were taking; but so far the way seemed completely deserted, but this did nothing to quell the uneasiness having to follow Peter, of all creatures, to a safe haven.

Randy sniffed the air, filtering the growing stench of sulfur from the ambient smells of recent Dromeosaur habitation; but found the latter smell was faint and stale, telling him they were definitely there, albeit a long time ago. Olu and Artemis noticed the dropped and kicked aside weapons and utilitarian implements along their path, telling of a hasty evacuation from these parts. As the rumblings at their feet grew in intensity, so did their pace; but was halted abruptly as Peter paused at the end of this section of hallway, where a huge wooden door across it barred their way. He pushed on the barrier, but the guards in their haste had locked it; and the keys the others had stolen from the dungeon guards would no doubt fail to work on this extra heavy locking mechanism.

“What is it?”, Ajax asked as he stepped up to the door.

“The way out is through here.”, Peter told him. “But it’s locked tight!”

“We got keys.”, Frak said, offering his. “Try these, and maybe one of them opens it…”

After all the keys were unsuccessfully tried, April scowled. “Now what?”, she said accusingly.

“We go back?”, Frak offered.

“Nothing doing!…”, Randy said, inspecting the door from where he was. “I can break through this!… The wood seems only a few inches thick.”, he squinted. “The hardware seems worn enough to break right off…”

“You’ll hurt yourself.”, Peter hoped.

“What do you care?!”, Randy began to back up. “You just get out of the way, small fry!…”, then to the others. “Get to one side of the passage, everyone!…”, Randy backed all the way back up the hallway, almost to the last intersection they passed. He bellowed and began to speed to a brisk trot. “Geronimooooooo…!”, he bellowed as he practically galloped past them!

Randy closed his armored eyelids a second before he hit the door, and his spine contracted as he made impact; but the armor encrusting the rest of his body supported his multi-ton mass as the door shattered like kindling, taking most of the surrounding stonework with it. As the juggernaut ploughed through the barred opening, a large cloud of dust was raised; and as it began to clear, the rest of them saw the completeness of Randy’s handy-work as he got up shaking his head.

“Ogh…! That’ll leave a mark…”, Randy winced at his fresh headache, there were also fresh scratches all over his face and neck.

“Are you all right, boy?”, Seamus came over the rubble to inspect him.

“Yeah, but now the bad guys have a tremendous repair bill!…”, the beast said as he walked unsteadily up the now opened passageway.

“The west exit is this way…”, Peter walked by the recovering Ankylosaur, barely noticing his condition.

“Let’s go…”, Ajax told the others as he followed.

“Yeah,…”, Randy took up the rear. “And the next doorway we come to, we can use HIS head as a battering ram!…”

The group advanced, and saw many smaller saurians scramble by as stones fell from the ceiling; and thick smoke choked off many a side passage, and one thing they all noticed was how hot it was getting. They all thought nothing of it as they ran, thinking that since they were so close to the exit the summer heat wave on the surface was trickling in; but many of the unshod ones noticed the floors were the hottest, and in one side passage they noticed the cobbles were actually glowing. Down another sloping passage Peter Triceratops led them, down-grade easier on the pace they had set, but set them to worry as they were supposed to be moving up and out. At last an arched doorway framed in sunlight made itself clear up ahead, and Peter was almost trampled as the rest quickened their pace toward the exit; but the apparition that met their eyes as they squinted to adjust to the brightness left them all aghast, for standing by the doorway was a thirty foot tall Allosaur!

Peter walked right up to this monster, obviously knowing her. “Sweethorror, please let us go.”, he pleaded. “The whole place is being destroyed!”

“PETERRR…! PLAY?…”, she wailed.

“No play, RUN!”, Peter implored. “Look at the mountain peak…”, she did.

“OH,… NO…!”, Sweethorror exclaimed at the pyroclastic cloud drowning out the sky. “MOTHER SAID IT IS UNWISE TO HUNT IN A BURNING FOREST.”, she said. “I WILL FLEE TOO!”, she darted like a juggernaut into the bush and out of the area, away from the smoking mountain.

They all watched Sweethorror leave before any of them gathered wits enough to do something, and Ajax spoke first. “We will do better if we make for the sea.”, he looked for the sun to discern direction, a task made all but impossible for the grey cloud above. “West is this way…”, he led them down a skinny trail in the general direction of the western coast of the Outer Island…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and Company, fleeing the volcano
_

Without questioning Ajax's orders, Hazen followed the others down the western path. Hazen clasped onto Redcrest's hand, making sure that she would remain close to the rest and not get lost in the scramble to safety. Unfortunately, her smaller strides and limited endurance meant that the two of them quickly found themselves in the back of the group. The rumblings grew louder and louder as the impending disaster drew closer and closer. The group heard this and started running faster and faster.

Another tremor shook the ground. Redcrest stumbled and fell. Her hand slipped out of Hazen's and he stopped. She got up and started running again. "I'm not hurt," she explained as she went past. Hazen resumed his pace, overtaking his Partner in short order.

With a loud crack, a fissure opened up behind Hazen and before Redcrest. She couldn't stop and tried to jump the widening expanse. Because of her size, she fell short, clinging on to the grasses on the other side. "Help!" she screamed.

Hazen stopped and turned around, seeing her on the edge. As he did so, he got a good look at the cupola of the volcano. It was now engulfed in fire and smoke. He ran back to Redcrest, praying that his legs would carry him to her rescue. "Hang on!" he shouted.

Polongo and Artemis turned around, hearing the scream. Artemis bleated, "My hatchling!" and doubled back out of maternal instinct.

"We can't dawdle!" Polongo countered. "Hazen is there. We must go!" Polongo firmly pushed Artemis down the path, with the mother protesting the whole way.

The grasses broke from their roots and Redcrest slipped further down the large crack. Just as the last one broke, Hazen grabbed her hand. "Gotcha!" he shouted.

Redcrest looked down into the gaping maw and saw a glowing red river. She felt the heat as the lava flowed beneath her and she panicked again. "Don't drop me!" she pleaded.

Hazen reached with his other hand to grab her wrist. "I won't, but you've gotta help me. You need to find something you can hang on to. I can't pull you up by myself."

"I'm slipping!" she screamed as she felt her fingers grow looser and looser.

"Try, Redcrest," Hazen replied with tears coming down his eyes. He could feel her slipping as well, but he fought desperately to save her from a fiery end. One hand broke free. Redcrest screamed out of panic. Hazen felt the other one slipping. He closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. She slipped free. "No!" he shouted.

All his mind was so focused on saving his Partner that he blotted out all other distractions. As such, he did not hear the footsteps behind him, see the object that was thrust downward into the fissure, or hear the command, "Grab this!" When his eyes opened again, Redcrest was holding onto a spear -- his own spear -- getting a grip just above the point. As he tried to comprehend what was going on, he heard a voice shout, "Don't just stand there, help me!" He turned and saw April. She must have followed him after he left the group. He stood up and grabbed the spear, helping to lift Redcrest out with one big heave.

Redcrest scrambled away from the fissure. When she was several feet away, she panted heavily, amazed that she was still alive. Hazen couldn't believe it either. Redcrest looked at Hazen and threw herself against Hazen, glad that one of the few people she wanted to see after an experience like that was there. Hazen hugged Redcrest close and shed several tears before looking up at April. He said, "Thank you so much."

"Thank me when we're away from the volcano!" April said as she started to run off. Hazen got the idea and grabbed Redcrest's hand, leading her away from the mountain. Behind them, the fissure started to fill up with more and more lava.
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Falokar, Ajax, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather, Tebo and Natasha; “HOT” on their heels and a weight off their shoulders.

Tebo Lewis snuck a look back at the way they had come as they bolted out of the giant Tyrannosaur maw that was the main entrance to the temple complex, and saw the reliefs crumbling all around it; but redoubled his pace as he saw the sight that would haunt him forever. The giant entryway quickly began to vomit out heat and steam, then a crimson river began pouring out of it; just like a creature with a bad meal would upchuck it in revulsion!

“The lava is chasing us!”, Tebo yelled.

“Don’t look back!…”, Bentfeather clung to him. “Just RUN!!…”

The lava flowed down the hill the path was on, and gained speed as gravity took over it’s motion; and it soon grew in speed to begin to outpace them as they ran in vain for their lives. The lava flow oozed over the sides of the banked up path, and instantly began to sear trees, instantly igniting them and adding a jungle-wide conflagration to add to their woes. Just then the mountain rumbled it’s loudest, exploding in a deafening cacophony that vibrated the very air they breathed, and sent them stumbling as up and down lost all meaning within it.

This time it was lady Natasha’s turn to look back, and she moaned loud enough to be heard over the permeable noise of eruption. The peak of the mountain was nothing but a pall of pyroclastic debris, and as it spewed out more material; the cloud collapsed in a gigantic rush, and began to flow down the slopes at faster than the speed of sound right in their direction!

“This is it…!”, Lady Natasha said forlornly. “Just keep on running, and don’t worry…”, she took one last peek back, at the deadly white wall bearing down on them. “It will be all over soon…”

Through the bass rumbling going on all around them, they heard a shrill sound of something screaming; then whacking sounds muffled by the approaching flow. Then there was a repeat of the cry, and they did not even have time to look about before everything changed. They had thought they died, and was going up to Paradise; but the pain in Tebo’s and Natasha’s shoulders told them that this might not be the case. They were off the ground, rising up above the blasted landscape; and gaining altitude by the second as what ever was going on tried to rise above the pyroclastic landslide. It was only after they were up above the scalding cloud and the sulfurous smoke that they looked up and saw exactly was going on; for they had just been rescued by a pair of Skybax and their riders!

“Just relax and let them grasp you…”, Postal Bird 76 peeked over the shoulder of Cirrus and down on them. “We should be in Culebra in an hour or so…”

“Seventy-Six!…”, Bentfeather exclaimed. “How, by the council of reason, did you ever find us?!”

“It wasn’t easy.”, 76 said.

“My shoulders are starting to bleed!”, Tebo complained, for Cirrus’s talons were digging in.

“That can’t be helped.”, 76 said as Cirrus crowed apologetically. “Just try to relax… And enjoy the ride!”, he looked at lady Natasha and saw the pain on her face by the other Skybax’s talons.

The pair of Skybax, their riders and their passengers swooped away north; using the blasted thermal currents that the erupting volcano created to maneuver around the island’s central mountain and around the arroyos until a deep bay with many buildings and sporting lots of renewed activity since the siege was lifted by the combined efforts of the saurian guards and the Skybax; and the airborne group steered a course to the city below…

_

IC: Officer Ajax and the rest of the friends led by an enemy. Escape by the sea road to Culebra.

With considerable luck and tracking skills performed by officer Ajax and the rest of the saurian troopers, the group of escaped prisoners quickly made it to the western coast of the Outer Island; even though the tectonic disturbances seemed to follow them every cautious step of the way, and the pyroclastic cloud seemed to grow around them to engulf them. They were miles away from the epicenter now, but the danger was no further away; evident in the increasing quaking the ground was making, and the increasing anxiety displayed by all present.

Through the jungle Peter Triceratops was no help as his tracking skills outside of his sense of smell was present, as he was the first one of the saurians to smell the salty odors of the sea when they were fairly close to it; but all the rest of the time he proved to be of very little help indeed. The quivering jungle swiftly gave way to salt marsh, and this turned quickly into tide pools and sandy beaches; both seemed to be of the same consistency under their feet due to the infrasonic shaking of the land, and the waves they saw coming out from sea was choppy and rippled with the island’s volcanic vibrations. It was here that they paused for a moment to regroup.

“OK, we go up the coastal road to Culebra from here…”, Ajax said as he looked toward the thick grey cloud behind them. “And we better hurry…!”

“If that cloud falls, it will catch up with us in minutes!”, Frak looked too.

“We must run!”, April said.

“That won’t make a difference.”, said Ajax. “We need greater speed!”

Olu sidled up to Ajax and indicated he ride his steed. “A good idea!”, Ajax smiled at him. “Artemis, Polongo. Let miss Manchester and Seamus ride you.”

“And us?”, Frak indicated Hazen, Redcrest and himself.

“I’ll take Hazen and Redcrest…”, Randy said. “Want a ride, honey?…”, this he directed at the hatchling.

Frak looked forlornly around, then at Peter, who looked back and sighed. “All right… Get on…”, he moaned.

The two saurian troopers mounted their steeds with practiced ease, and Seamus needed help getting on Polongo; for he was used to riding in a cart, and the rest mounted their saurians in ragged order. Hazen climbed Randy’s wide, scuted body and lifted Redcrest up to ride in front of him; where both squatted on the turtle-like hide, and Hazen grasped two forward-facing spikes near Randy’s shoulder blades for safety for them both. Peter held still as Frak used a face horn for a handhold, then the Pachy swiveled up to sit just behind his neck frill; and when all were mounted squarely enough to proceed, all five saurians and their riders made quicker time down the coastal road of the Outer Island.

The three Hadrosauroids had to keep down to a brisk trot to allow the two four footed saurians to keep pace with them, but still it was much faster than a human could run; and this kept the whole group together for many miles, all riders bouncing up and down uncontrollably. From his steed officer Ajax looked back to the volcanic mountain peak, seeing that the pyroclastic cloud was much smaller for the distance; but there was one strange thing happening to it at this very moment, and it was the one thing that sent fear in him worse than the danger of any battle! The cloud had reached maximum saturation point, and was now collapsing to the ground; and was spilling down the volcanic peak at an alarming pace, stripping away the entire jungle behind them. Within seconds the rumbling of it’s approach grew to deafening decibels, and the ground resonated with it’s coming; and after more seconds, the rest of them knew that death was mere moments away!

“Quick everyone!…”, Ajax shouted. “Get into the sea!… It’s our only chance!…”, all five saurians turned to look, then took Ajax’s advice and bolted for the crashing waves…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C -Falokar and Kestrai (A new Tribe)

A Few Days had Passed since the Eruption on the outer island, what remnants of the once very large and very proud dromeasaurian army were now scarce and scattered, clinging to what little hope they had.

For many, they had lost their homes, their loved ones, and their Pack leaders, this weighed the most heavy on the ones around Falokar, who now realized that it was his destiny... his birth right to step up and take charge.

Snapper and Scourge had gathered as many refugees as they were able, and soon started a party to gather supplies and build shelters. The chaos that had been instilled in every dromeasaur thus far began to subdue as glimmers of a new life began to take hold.

It was on the fourth day after the eruption that Falokar finally took charge of what was rightfully his...
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Falokar walked out to the small camp that had been set up... looking around and breathing in the early morning air, it was hard to believe it had already been a week since he had taken charge. Snapper walked up to him, an air of pride and some restilled humility in him, "Good morning Sir, how are you feeling?"

Falokar nodded, "Greetings Snapper, Fine thank you... how're things with our clan relationships?" Falokar's first acts as leader where to gather as many survivors as possible, heal any wounded, build a base camp, gather supplies, and then start foreign relations with other clans.

Snapper nodded, "Very well Sir, they seem to be sympathising to our cause, this will work to our benefit... however we have several that wish to join our clans, as you know this requires concemating..."
Falokar nodded, "Very well do as you must, but know this, no one is to touch Kestria..."
Snapper nodded and bowed, "Of course sir, anything else?'

Falokar nodded again, "In fact there is, Kestrai and myself are going to extend our relations to the Dinotopain mainland... this may take some time... during my absence you Snapper are in charge, I wish for you to lead our people in recovery, and under no circumstances are you to attack any Dinotopian settlements, right now we need as many allies as we can get, and upsetting the main land would be poor move on our part. Kestria and I will be leaving for the mainland within the next few days. I trust you to keep things running smoothly here."

Around that time Kestria emerged from the same tent that Falokar himself had, she was looking as radiant as ever, her feathers more vibrantly colored now than they had been in weeks.
Falokar smiled and walked over to her, they greeted each other with a series of hugs, nuzzles and a saurain kiss. Falokar grinned and rubbed Kestria's shoulders... she smiled back. 'How're things going Falokar?" She asked lovingly.

Falokar nodded, "Things are good, our recovery is slow, but steady, if we keep this up, we'll be a fully functional civilzation again by the end of the year, have you made preparations to travel to Treetown?"

Kestrai nodded, "Yes my love, I will be ready to leave at any time, but tell me, why must we make ties with the regular Dinotopians again?"

Falokar smiled and gave a light chuckle, "Because, right now our people are barely klinging to anything, we need as many allies as possible... and to keep a resistance to the Dinotopian mainland would be a poor move on our part, we need powerful allies, and though it seems not every one is fond of the idea... being allies with the Dinotopia mainland will ensure that we are protected, and aided in our time of need."

Kestrai nodded, "Oh right... got 'ya, she snuggled close to him and kept her warm body against his own, "So... what are you planning on doing today, our handsome and glorious leader?"

Falokar blushed a little then smiled, "Oh I don't know, we should probably start making relations with the Dinotopain settlements here on the outer island first, then from there we can start moving to Dinotopia it self, mind you this "Foreign relations mission will require that we travel to Treetown, Waterfall City, Sauropolis, and Canyoncity...don't worry, i'm fairly well known in most of those places so we shouldn't have tooo hard of a time getting around, we just have to mind our p's and q's while we're arund the other saurains."

Kestrai nodded, "Of course... we don't want another incident like the one we just had."

Falokar nodded, "So how are thing now that you've taken control of guarding the temples.... any problems?"

Kestria shook her head, "Not a one... good thing too, cause right now, our forces are so diminished i don't think we could stop an archeological raid if we wanted too."

Falokar frowned, "Hmm we're gonna have to work on that, in any case that will be something to bring up to the councils in Dinotopia when we get there."

Falokar then put his hand around Kestria's waist, who in turn put one of her hands around him, and the other on his hand that was on her. Then together they began their daily rounds around the camp.

-They have officially concumated during the time lapse, but it is unknown if kestria is baring anything at this point, however Falokar is now an official member of the new tribe, and also the Alpha Male, Kestrai is his Alpha Female... together they lead -The Hidden Claw Tribe, the name signifying that when a claw is hidden it is both, harmless, and dangerous because while retracted it shows a sign of peace and Fairgoing relations, but should also be treated with caution, respect and courtasy, less there be a wish for relations to go sour.-

Tag Any and all

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and Redcrest, fleeing the Volcano and going for a dip
_

Everyone was ordered to mount up to increase their pace away from the impending doom. Randy offered to carry Hazen and Redcrest and, as such, Hazen did his best to get situated on the broad body of the Ankylosaur. He hefted Redcrest up and got a grip, keeping her secure on Randy's back as they took off for the ocean. Randy's plodding did increase their speed, but his gait was unlike any other beast he had ridden and he tried desperately to hang onto the knobby protrusions from Randy's sides.

In a short amount of time, they had covered significant ground. Seeing the blue ocean to his side as they traveled proved to be a very welcome sight for Hazen. Hazen said to himself, "We're gonna make it. We're actually gonna make it!" As if jinxing the whole situation, he heard a loud rumbling. A large pyroclastic flow was heading their way. Unless they thought of something, their fate would be akin to the citizens of Pompeii. Ajax then called for them to dive into the sea. Although Hazen didn't think it would make much of a difference to their survival if they dived in, he wasn't going to argue with Ajax.

Randy turned toward the shore and plodded as fast as his feet could carry him. Hazen leaned close to Redcrest. "Take a deep breath and swim as far down and as far out as you can. We may need to be down there for a while."

"I never swam before," Redcrest indicated.

"Don't worry," he said. "Just kick your feet and swing your arms. I'm sure something instinctive will come to you."

They hit the beach. "Get ready to swim on three," Hazen said. "One." Randy's feet hit the water. "Two." Randy was now knee high in the surf. "Three!" Redcrest and Hazen jumped off the Ankylosaur, taking deep breaths at the same time. The sea salt stung Hazen's eyes as he kicked down as far and as hard as he could. He glanced back enough to see that he was a good 20 feet below the surface. Redcrest had also kept up. The shadows and forms of the others surrounded him as a large black shadow came over the surface of the water, blotting out the sun. If death was going to come to him, he knew that it would be swift.
_

TAG: Ajax, Bentfeather, any and all!

[tarion]

i.c-Falokar's Flashback-

"Come on Kestria we gotta keep moving!" Falokar yelled as they raced through the forest several loud explosions were heard and the ground shook violently.... Falokar looked over his shoulder to see the large plume of pyrocloud debries flowing upwards into the sky.... he kept a firm grip on Kestria's hand and ran faster.... along the way several other dromeasaurs passed him, Snapper and Sludge included...

Falokar waited feeling they had gotten a safe distance away from the volcano... he turned back to look, magma was flowing down the mountain side burning everything in its wake... Falokar and kestria held each other wincing as they heard what sounded like thousands of screams.... "By the Gods....." Falokar wispered....

Kestria suddenly screamed and pointed, there had been another lava flow and this one was going right at them! Falokar scowled then using all his strength picked kestria up and ran with her as fast as his feet would cary him, the forest catching fire around them, and debries falling everywhere, kestria let out another scream and Falokar turned and began running right... he looked around there had to be a way to get past this......

Suddenly he saw it.... a rock near a river stream... if they could cross the river, which was several yards across they might have a chance.. the water would cool the magma and turn it to rock... and then later they could dig the water up!

Falokar took a deep breath and ran for it.... he was almost there when a tree fell in his way... without hesitating he let his ninja skills take over and lept over the tree then wall kicked off another nearby tree, landing on the rock... which was starting to heat up.... he jumped of quickly and landed in the water his feet steaming.

With a small grunt he began crossing the river... then making it to the other side let out a sigh of relief....
the lava began to flow into the river causing it to steam and the magma to cool and harden....

Falokar grinned, very proud of himself.... he set kestria down and began catching his breath.

"Phew... well now that that's over... " he leaned agaisnt kestria and hugged her, "We're gonna have to start looking for survivors tomorrow."

Kestria nodded, "Let's just hope that we're survivor's ourselves"

as if by cue upon saying those words the volcano let out a huge explosion and a pyroclastic cloud emerged beginning to flow over the entire island... falokar gasped, knowing he only had a matter of minutes to protect kestria... he looked around and spotted what he was looking for a large rock face! he quickly took kestria's hand and pulled her to it, then pushed her under the rock first and threw himself over her to protect her body, not a moment to soon, cause seconds later, they were covered in darkness and heat.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starting Over

an unknown amount of time had passed for Falokar and Kestria... they stayed cramped together under the rock and ash for some time... falokar had poked a hole into the covering that had formed over them so that they could breath some time later...

Slowly both began to fall asleep from shere exhaustion, it wasn't until later that they heard cracking and the sound of breaking rock... then with a breeze fresh air came through...
Falokar oppened an eye and saw Sludge staring at him

"Oh thank the gods! They're Alive! ,Everyone over here I found them!"

more of the covering around them broke away and falokar looked around, surrounding them was a band of maybe 20 or so dromeasaurs...

"h..how did you find us?" he asked. Sludge pointed to Snapper, "He saw you running this way, and when we saw the bubble here, we thought you might be in here"

Falokar looked around "Have you found any others?"

Snapper shook his head, "So far, we're all that's left... I say we take this time to get Culebrae back! They won't be expecting an attack after an eruption"

Falokar stood up and shook his head, "NO! Thats the last thing we need right now is more bloodshed, maybe it's escaped your notice Snapper, but we're all in ruins right now, to attack would surely crumble the civilty of this island, under no circumstances are we to attack the settlements here, besides, in the end we may need their help."

Kestria sat beside falokar looking at him in wonder... he was taking over... it was only a few hours after the eruption and he was taking over!
Falokar looked around at all the survivors, "Ok here's what we need to do, i need a roll call, of everyone we have so far, any other survivors are to be added to that roll call, second, we need a base, a home of some sort, anyone with carpenting skills should start aiding in building shelters immediatly, i want two teams of four to look for survivors, if there are any lava flows avoid them for now... if there is a survivor around the lava flow find the safest way to get to them, then aid them as quickly as possible. If there's anyone here with medical skills i'm going to need you to help take care of the wounded... anyone else without a job is to go and gather supplies."

Snapper and Sludge looked at Falokar, who was only half their size... and nodded to him, "You really are Dirge's son... he would have said the same thing just now, So what are you and Kestrai going to do?"
Falokar streatched, "I'll help out here as much as I can, but come tomorrow, I'm going to start a peace treaty with the settlements here, and try to appeal to the Dinotopian mainland, after all, we're going to need as much help as we can get"

Everyone nodded and Falokar stepped away from the rocks..."Alright everyone Listen up, You each know what your best at, so i suggest you do it, i want there to be groups at all times, no one is to venture alone, should there be a problem do not hesitate to yell for help, one other other groups WILL assist you."

With that he looked to Snapper and nodded, "I'm going to keep things running here, I want you and Sludge to lead two search parties... help anyone you can, carnivore or otherwise, treat them nicely... in a time like this a little kindness can go a looooong way."

Snapper and sludge nodded and gathered two teams of four sauraians, another eight went to gather supplies. Falokar stood by with kestria and two other dromeasaurs, one was a medic, the other a cook, "Let's get started you two, we're going to need a med hut, and some food, You can go and gather what you need, but stay together...."

they nodded and walked of, Kestria walked up beside Falokar and ginned, "I believe that's the most noble thing i've ever seen you do Falokar... and do you really intend to make peace with the mainlanders?"

Falokar nodded, "We not only should, but we're going to have to... in the mean time i suggest you rest Kestria... you're going to need it"

tag any and all

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and Tebo. Landing at Culebra.

The two Skybax circled the sky above the seaside harbor town of Culebra, their normal passengers safely in their saddles and their unusual passengers hanging precariously from their talons; and all were looking for a safe place to land as the town was abustle with activity, cleaning up and regrouping after a long siege at the claws of the carnivorous denizens of the Outer Island. Even though they called out profusely, Cirrus and the other could not get those below to make sufficient room to land with their extra loads; and the fact that their grips were failing on their passengers, Tebo Lewis and lady Natasha, this forced them to drop their precious cargo in the softest spots they could find.

Cirrus swooped down low along the docks and deposited Tebo and Bentfeather, who was still clinging to his tunic, into a large pile of stacked whicker baskets that were ready for import, where they tumbled into as the baskets collapsed all around them; thusly providing sufficient cushioning so they should not be terribly injured, and people on the ground rushed in to extricate the extremely bewildered pair. The other Skybax dropped lady Natasha into a large pile of hay that was next to the front of a shipping company two doors down from where Tebo and Bentfeather had landed, and she sprung out coughing hay and needing little help to right herself. Cirrus and his companion landed a half block down, and Elaina Dennison with the pilot of the other Skybax came running to assist their passengers out of the mess; and Postal Bird 76 swooped between them to pile into sir Bentfeather; who had just hopped atop a closed basket, and was sent sprawling back into the other baskets as they righted themselves and swooped up to perch on a rail near the strewn pile of baskets.

“So good to see you, my friend…”, 76 said, shaking Bentfeather’s wing.

“It was a lucky thing!”, said Bentfeather. “But why the amorous greeting?”

“I grew quite fond of you, old boy…”, 76 told him, chuckling. “I thought we’d lost you.”

“We were searching for survivors…”, Elaina said as she marched up to inspect Tebo. “We never expected to find any so close to the epicenter…”

“Your bird’s talons are sharp!”, Tebo said as he inspected his torn clothing and fairly deep scratches. “But being cut is better than being dead!…”, he smiled at her.

After a few moments a healer came running, and began to inspect lady Natasha before looking at Tebo‘s deeper wounds; her hide being the thicker, and her toughness being the greater. Others came to stack the baskets once again, and two came with pitchforks to stack the hay; and as soon as the curiosity factor wore off, many of them began to disperse. Most of the crowd began to part as Cirrus and the other began lumbering over to the group, and each bird found their rider and received an absently administered chin rub; all done as they eyed the scene with beady eyes, chortling with concern at the wounds they had created.

“We thought we were dead.”, lady Natasha said as she wiped stray hay from her own wounds. “Fortunately, all turned out well for us…”

“Where is the rest of your party, sir Bentfeather?”, Elaina asked.

“I don’t know.”, he replied.

“We were in the dungeon.”, Tebo told them as the healer stripped off his tunic and began applying bandages.

“We broke free, and decided to split up. Tebo and I went to rescue sir Bentfeather, who was in Nicolai Sanders‘ chambers.”, said lady Natasha. “I only hope the others escaped in time!”

“Did they show up here?”, Bentfeather asked, then repeated it so all around could hear. “A group of humans and dinosaurs… Has anybody seen them?”

“No one has seen the people you seek.”, said a random fellow near by after consulting with a few of his peers.

“We must send out a search party!”, announced Bentfeather.

“We have been doing so ever since our attack on Culebra.”, said a dark skinned Skybax pilot.

“We have been finding refugees all over the area.”, said the random human.

“We have been surveying the entire area by telescope from the ridges.”, said a lanky saurian guard rider. “There has been little movement from the south.”

The healer had just finished with Tebo, and began inspecting lady Natasha, whose wounds through her much tougher skin was far less severe. Tebo had broken free or the crowd and came near Cirrus, stroking his offered beak; and no words needed to be said between them of the boy’s gratitude and the Skybax’s reciprocations; and Elaina Dennison looked on smiling at the pair’s new unbreakable friendship, and Bentfeather sow in the boy his childhood fear of Skybax quickly becoming extinct. As the healer finished up with lady Natasha, she went to consult with the saurian guards still milling about; gathering intelligence and news about the battle here, as well as the efforts going on concerning reconstruction of the town. Pretty soon the town leaders met with sir Bentfeather, lady Natasha and Tebo, along with leaders of both the ground and airborne soldiers, making plans on how to proceed from here.

“The volcano has completely destroyed nearly half the jungle on the outer island.”, the appointed speaker was saying. “This will put a great strain on our way of life.”

“With less trees to forage from, our fruit production will decrease drastically!”, said a townsperson. “That will cause prices to soar, and would ruin our economy!”

“We are aware of this, but there is little we can do about it.”, the speaker said. “I suggest we find and nurture every producing plant, and guard it as if it were made of gold.”

“We should have cultivated the fruit trees.”, said another person. “We should have started orchards…”

“The lands and properties are too steep and rugged to plant normal orchards.”, said yet another. “That is why our predecessors did not do that before!”

“These are issues that can be resolved at a later date.”, Elaina Dennison told them. “What is needed now is organization and planning. There are still survivors out there, you know.”, she looked at every person at the meeting. “I would wager that even the carnivores had suffered devastation in the brink of this catastrophe!”

“But they were the ones that started this!…’, protested a loud one.

“They were not the ones to awaken the volcano.”, Elaina told him. “Let us give credit where credit is due!…”, she looked at them all. “True, they were the ones that laid siege to the island; but Mother Nature sent fire down on the island.”

“And their survivors are the possible ones that have thwarted my friends!”, sir Bentfeather broke in. “We are wasting our time here!… Is anybody going to organize a search party, and help me find my friends?…”

“They have been doing all they can, my friend.”, Elaina Dennison told him. “The only thing we can do is to wait…”

At length the meeting drew to a close, and the whole town of Culebra continued their efforts to rebuild their town; tabulating their resources and laying aside the necessities for the lean times ahead. In the two days that the rescued ones had been there, nothing at all was know of what had happened to their friends; and fearing they were dead loomed heavy on their hearts as they helped out, pitching in on this or that task as wished to do. Near the end of the third day, a lone saurian guard and her sentinel human friend came bounding down from the protecting ridge they were stationed atop; panting as they explained what they saw, for a group of alabaster-clad creatures was coming up the Coastal Road to the south, and assuming they were ghostly specters, they did not recognize them!…
_

IC: The rest of the friends, fighting the sea and the land.

When officer Ajax announced that the pyroclastic flow was coming, his group wasted no time in rushing for the sea several hundred yards to their left; and dared not look back as the wall of hot silt raced toward them at supersonic velocities. They splashed into the water and raced in up to their waists, depths comparable to their different sizes; and began to swim out for their lives, though some were less an expert in swimming than others. The saurian troopers were the more experienced, and helped the ones struggling along by pulling them or carrying them out; and even Randy helped the inexperienced ones, for his days at Mosasaur Harbor allowed him to become an excellent swimmer since he was a hatchling.

“Just grab on me…”, Randy paddled out further than the rest, slower than the Sotolophans, but steadier. “I’ll pull you out further…”, Hazen and Redcrest reached for the tank-like hide.

“Polongo says he caint swim…”, Seamus announced.

“Olu, stay with him.”, Ajax ordered. “April, see how Peter and Frak are doing.”

“What’s wrong, son?”, Frak asked the horned youngster.

“I can’t swim either.”, Peter said, afraid to go above his head.

“Awk, it’s easy!…”, Frak told him. “Just move your feet like you’re running, and swish your tail from side to side…”

“I can’t!”, Peter said.

“Do it, three-horn…”, Frak yelled. “Or I’ll stick you with my claws!…”

“That’s not the way to make him…”, April said as Artemis guided Peter’s actions, and soon Peter was slowly making progress in the water.

“The cloud is moments away!”, Ajax observed. “Everyone!… Out to the breakwater!…”

The swimming group only made it half way to their goal when the pyroclastic cloud hit, and everyone ducked under the waves; swimming straight down for as far as they were able, and noticing the chilly water was slowly raising in temperature. As the hot soot landed on the water, it cooled to the boiling point of water; creating giant clouds of steam that fogged the entire sea shore, and thankfully it began to slow it’s progress as fire met water. Nobody opened their eyes for the salt content of the water, but if they did they would have witnessed the somewhat clear water instantly begin to cloud up; the soot and pumice trickling down through the viscous fluid, and causing the reason why the water was gradually becoming too hot! Instinctively the group dove deeper, and the rip tides at that depth was a help as it drew them further out to sea; but the burning on their skin became overpowered by the burning in their lungs as only the larger saurians could hold their breath the longer, and many of them tried to grope their way upward as their oxygen supplies quickly ran out.

All of a sudden each in the group was stripped from each other, and the sensations of rushing water careened all about them; and it felt like they were caught in a maelstrom or whirlpool as they were swiftly tossed about. Each felt the smooth hides of creatures as they were grabbed, and instinctively held onto them for dear life; but they all dreaded that these creatures were sharks; tossing them about, disorienting them to be made into easier kills. This went on for several seconds, but it felt like many hours before their heads broke the surface in ragged order; each marveling that they were all at least a mile out to sea, and they coughed the last of the water out of their lungs glad to be alive! On further inspection of their surroundings, they finally saw their saviors breaching in the water many yards off; and all that were able cheered at this group of dolphins, Cryptoclydus and other friendly sea saurians.

The island in the distance was awash in white, and the fog from the flow crept out even this far; but they were safe, though thoroughly waterlogged. Ajax slowly swum toward the nearest dolphin, their rescuer’s leader; and stroked the smooth, fishy flank in thank you for their salvation. The other aquatic creatures swam up to the rest and chose whom they would tow ashore, and within twenty minutes were under way once more. The nearest beaches were desolate wastelands, and their environment was too hostile to land upon; so they were towed many miles to the north, where the endless white ash eventually gave way to the tan sands beaches were known for; and though the landing was stony and rough on the feet, each thanked their Maker for solid ground to walk upon once more. The dolphins and others breached for joy at their completed mission many yards out, and was soon gone from view; and April was the first to look around to get their bearings.

“The coastal road is over there.”, she stated as Hazen commented about the rescue being an experience he had gone through before.

“Those trees look intact.”, Frak observed the semi-blasted foliage and the withery trees beyond. “Maybe there is fruit there to eat…”, he went there, followed by many of the group.

“Maybe there’s fresh water to drink, too!”, Randy licked his salty chops and followed.

“My whole head feels filled with water.”, Peter groused where he squatted on the stones. “I’m going to get an ear infection for sure…”

“You did very well, Peter.”, Ajax said as he came over. “But why the change?”

“Well, ever since I went with Petronas, I’ve been getting the short end with them.”, said Peter. “If that’s the way I’m treated, then who needs it?”

“Do you realize that, since you are the only surviving perpetrator of everyone’s woes; you will be tried as a common criminal, and punished to the fullest extent of the law?”, Ajax stated.

“I know… And it is obvious I deserve it…”, Peter said.

“Why do you say that?”, asked Ajax.

“Well, many things.”, said Peter. “For one thing, I was all in for the takeover. I was promised a powerful position and great wealth, and wanted it.”, he brought his voice to a whisper. “Plus the fact that I am a murderer.’

“Who did you kill?”, Ajax asked.

“For one thing, I killed Frank Scratt in Waterfall City… I was the one who gored him.”, he gulped at the memory. “I also pushed another human off a cliff on the way here… He could have identified us…”

“I see…”, Ajax said. “And do you know, that since you told me that, I will have to present it as evidence against you?”, Ajax saw Peter’s trepidation, and smiled. “But I will also tell how you helped us escape, and for that they may be lenient in your punishment.”

“Thanks… With the trouble I’m in now, anything will help!…”, Peter sighed relief, then paused once again. “My pops is going to be so mad at me!…”

“Well, fathers can be very forgiving.”, Ajax told him. “He will probably be glad you’re back, and be proud that you learned your lesson… You DID learn something out of all this, didn’t you?…”

“I think I did…”, Peter thought for a moment. “I think that, to follow a person with delusions of grandeur is the more foolish than the person with those delusions.”, he thought some more. “And sometimes the most prosperous place to strive for is where you started out….”, he smiled at the wisdom.

“I’ll tell your papa that, and he’ll be so proud of you!”, Ajax smiled this time and tapped Peter’s nose horn. “Now let’s see if anybody found something to eat…”, he got up and went to where Frak and the others were just emerging from the scraggly jungle, and Peter got up and followed.

After a brief meal of palm fronds, bananas, casabas and coconuts; and water mixed with an hour’s rest, they set off north again down the Coastal Road. Even though they were many miles away from the epicenter of the volcano, many pockets of now cooled ash still lay at their feet in places; making these areas look like they had just seen freshly fallen snow, except it rose silt and dust as they walked through them. This combined with their bodies drying from the sea made this dust cling to them in wadded mats, and soon they were covered from head to foot in a layer of fine white powder the consistency of plaster. Every now and then faint rumbling behind them told that the volcano had not yet decided to fall asleep, and occasionally looking back through the blasted landscapes behind them, they saw plumes of smoke still wafting from the volcano’s now stunted peak. Before the afternoon grew long the devastation thinned to be replaced by more normal looking jungle, and as the Coastal road rose into the escarpments to their right they could finally see the faint signs of habitation; small abandoned shacks and once cultivated fields met their view, and the cries of Skybax rose in the air all around them. As they crested a rise through a gorge they saw the unmistakable sight of Culebra down amid the harbor below them, but they were all too exhausted to run down and meet the people waiting for them…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and Company, The Ocean off the island.
_

Hazen felt wet.

The fact that he continued to feel wet kept him going for he knew that he wasn't dead. Since the shadow came over the surface of the water, he closed his eyes, trying in vain to mitigate the stinging he now felt. Unfortunately for him, he was also feeling hot as the ash was raising the temperature of the water to inhospitable levels. Of the ways he thought he would go, being boiled alive wasn't high on his list.

Redcrest began to panic. Although her hadrosaur pedigree left some latent swimming ability, she was still afraid. She had never held her breath so long before and she needed to breathe. Making things worse, things started hitting her, knocking her every which way. She began to fear that the Kraken was coming for her and she screamed, sending out a flurry of bubbles. As she drew her breath for another scream, her lungs began to burn, but for a much different reason. She flailed frantically as her body recognized that she was drowning. Without warning, she felt pressure against her belly.

Suddenly, she felt air on her back. She flung her head up and gasped before coughing up seawater. Every breath felt better than the last. When she felt that all the water was gone, she looked around. The fact that she was still scared out of her wits, combined with the fact that no one was around caused her to weep. She was too upset to really care about the creature holding her up at the surface of the water. Suddenly, another figure burst through the surface, causing her to scream.

Hazen gasped as he nearly passed out from the lack of oxygen. Like Redcrest, a dolphin positioned itself under him so that he could rest easily and breathe. His next few breaths were labored, but in short order, he felt his consciousness regaining. He opened his eyes and saw blue ocean. His ears heard a few excited cries. "Hazen!" it said. "Hazen, over here!"

Hazen turned his head and saw little Redcrest. He smiled and said, "I see you." He saw the eyes of the dolphin propping Redcrest up like a newborn calf as he realized that another one of the beasts did the same for him. He patted the cetacean's side, silently thanking it for rescuing him. "Be sure to thank the dolphin for saving you," he told the hatchling.

Redcrest looked down at the soft form below her. As she said her thank-you, more and more of their comrades broke the surface of the water. All of them had a creature of varying sizes assisting them to varying degrees. Hazen did a quick head count. Everyone was there.

In short order, they began to head to a safe area of the coast. After a while, they made landfall. The party was able to rest to some extent during the trip, allowing them to scramble up the coast. Hazen made it above the tide line before turning back, seeing the dolphins breeching in the distance. He smiled. "This is the second time I've been rescued by the dolphins," he remarked. "Again, I'm indebted to them." He waved to the sea creatures, again thanking them for their assistance.

When they had left for the deeper waters, Hazen got up to follow the group. After some refreshments, they began the long march to Culebra. Redcrest, thoroughly exhausted, was allowed to nap on Randy's back while Hazen stood alongside him. His mind was numbed by the sheer distances they had to cover and, as such, didn't mind the patina of ash that now covered him from head to toe, even though he took precautions to not inhale the ash. At one point, he thought he saw a pair of guards, but dismissed it as a figment of his imagination.

After he lost track of distance, they reached a gorge. Nearby was their destination: Culebra. Hazen gave a halfhearted smile. "We made it," he said. He weakly raised his arms, waving to the citizens in the distance, hoping to draw their attention. Finally, he collapsed, lost in a dreamless sleep brought on by months of travel and stress.
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TAG: Bentfeather, Ajax, Falokar, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Elaina Dennison, Cirrus and most of the friends. Retribution and reunion.

The group of refugees that came into the port town of Culebra was barely recognizable to Tebo Lewis, lady Natasha and sir Bentfeather when they finally stopped in front of them after trudging exhaustedly through town to appear in their midst; and none of the native townspeople would have recognized them if they knew them, which they didn’t. Once the shock of seeing officer Ajax, officer Manchester, Olu, Artemis, Polongo, Frak, Randy, Hazen Baker, Redcrest, Seamus and an as yet unidentified Triceratops in the condition they were in; the reunions commenced in earnest as their shouts of greeting rose in pitch, and embracing went on despite how grubby these newcomers were.

Immediately Natasha located and pounced on Frak, and they pressed craniums together; rubbing their knobby heads in greeting and rumbling in their own language of how much they missed each other. Tebo saw Hazen and clasped him on the shoulder before crouching to say hi to Redcrest. Other greetings were also apparent as Tebo walked to Randy and hugged his irregular head; and up until this time no one gave Peter any regard until he was spotted sheepishly trying to avoid recognition.

“It’s you…”, Tebo said as he saw the Triceratops. “Sir Bentfeather, look!”

“Peter my boy…”, Bentfeather said sternly. “I’m glad you made it… But why?…”

“Sir Bentfeather, Peter helped us to escape.”, Ajax said as lady Natasha finished shaking his hand. “He wants to turn a new leaf, so to speak; and he wants to make amends for the trouble he helped cause.”, Peter nodded.

“Well, it seems they must have treated you badly for you to feel so.”, Bentfeather observed, remembering the rash treatment Petronas and the rest served him all along the way.

“You don’t know the half of it.”, Peter agreed.

“Well, never the less, I’m glad you made it!”, Bentfeather patted the lad’s nose horn, and drew away dirty feathers. “But you’re a mess!… In fact, ALL of you are!…”

“We escaped the hot cloud, but did not escape it’s effects.”, Frak said.

“Can we arrange to have them take baths?…”, lady Natasha asked some townspeople behind them, and several went to prepare them.

“How did you escape?”, April asked in the mean time.

“We escaped from the main entrance just before the cloud fell.”, Natasha said.

“And we took them into the sky just in the nick of time.”, Elaina Dennison said as she stepped into the group.

“They took us directly here.”, Bentfeather told them. “We were so worried about you!…”

“And I was worried for all of us!”, Randy said. “I hope we don’t have to do THAT again!…”

As the initial greetings finally drew to a close, they all went their separate ways in the city; to where the townspeople had arranged they would spend their time there. Wounds were bound and healed, and everyone received a well earned rest for a few days; and soon it became clear that they had to get back to where they were supposed to be. Randy, as well as Polongo and Seamus, mentioned that they had lost the carts and all the supplies; and the latter two requested they be compensated for their loss, while the former merely apologized for losing public property. Both were assured that everything would be all right, and a new cart would be issued to them guaranteed by the Waterfall City council; but this would not happen until they reached the mainland.

Just before they were ready to leave the Outer Island, guards came marching into the harbor side town; and the ones they brought with them gave everyone great cause to be alarmed, for these prisoners they brought were two of the Dromeosaurs that had ravaged the town so recently! These two, male and female, came without protest or hostility; and bowed to several of the town elders as they were presented to them. The rest of the townspeople that had gathered around grumbled and complained, saying to do most terrible things to them as retribution to their recent torment. The elders did not know what to do with them, but the commotion was brought to the attention of sir Bentfeather and his group; and nearly all of them knew who these two were when they saw them, the Microraptor stepping in and halting the shouting of the rest.

“People!… Please do not treat these persons so!…”, he said loudly. “They have came to you for a reason, and if you would listen to them they will tell you…!”, he then looked at the prostrate pair and spoke to them. “I never thought I’d see you again, Falokar… And I’m glad to see you survived the volcano, Kestria!”, he then spoke louder. “What brings you here, after all that has happened?”, He listened as they explained what was going on.

As Falokar spoke, the townspeople gradually nodded in the nobleness of the plan he was relating to them; for he was proposing a new treaty between the carnivores and the others of the Outer Island. Kestria told of the foolishness their kind had inflicted at the hands of the evil ones that coerced their honor to their bidding, and proposed many new edicts that would be followed by all to prevent this thing from happening again. They both apologized profusely for any and all trouble their kind had inflicted, and promised such things would never happen again; and through much discussion between the elders and the townspeople, it was agreed that this was the best thing for all.

“Yes, I think that would be the wisest solution to this dilemma… I dare say that, after the trouble that happened, peace would be the best answer.”, said Bentfeather after serious thought. “However, it would be prudent to place all edicts in writing, and meet on it officially. Perhaps this proposal could be presented to the high council at Waterfall City…”

Falokar stated that they would like to travel there to present it in person, but Bentfeather had a better idea. “That may not be necessary, as you all have a lot of work to do here first.”, he then smiled. “Please allow me to deliver this proposal to the council myself. This is so they may consider it first. Then after most reparations are made here, it might prove prudent that you appear in person to finalize it.”

Falokar slowly nodded, seeing this was the best course of action; and one of the town elders spoke next. “Well, I suppose we best get started on it… Guards, take them to the meeting house.”, then remembered his hospitality. “And see they get refreshments.”

This meeting went on for quite a while, but after a brief few hours all agreements were made; and forthwith their treaty was penned that was agreeable to all. Bentfeather’s group was not included in this meeting as it was not their place, so they continued to make arrangements to travel back to the mainland. Before they were ready to go a copy of the treaty proposal was delivered to Bentfeather, who rolled the scroll, nodding after he read it, and placed it in a new satchel provided by Culebra…
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TAG: Hazen, Falokar and Kestria… One and all!